Beijing is mobilizing think tanks around the country to solve
traffic congestion in the capital ahead of the
2008 Olympic
Games.
A
total of 19 leading transport experts from around the country
gathered in Beijing last week to discuss the city's traffic
problems at the invitation of the Ministry of Science and
Technology.
They gave a final evaluation of the Beijing Intelligent Transport
Systems (ITS) Project, which they hope will relieve the snarl-ups
that have blighted the capital for years.
The project - approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology as
a key scientific research item during the country's 10th Five-Year
Plan (2001-05) - will be carried out later this year, combining the
efforts of leading scientists nationwide.
Foreign experts will also be involved in the project, bringing
expertise honed during previous Olympics in Sydney and Atlanta,
according to the ministry.
The central government allocated 560 million yuan (US$68 million)
for national ITS research, and Beijing was a pilot city in the
project.
The city also plans to pour 55 million yuan (US$6.7 million) to
carry out research in partnership with the central government.
The project looks at intelligent traffic control systems, parking
systems, public transportation systems and information service
networks for passengers. It is expected to greatly improve the
capital's traffic management.
Secretary-General Shi Dinghuan of the ministry encouraged experts
to maximize the value of the project by taking the "tremendous"
traffic pressures that are anticipated during the Olympiad in 2008
into full account.
Shi also called on experts to raise more "practical" suggestions
for the renovation and development of Beijing's traffic
network.
Beijing has invested vast human and financial resources to tackle
its congestion problems by building three ring roads around the
city but traffic jams remain a big headache.
More than 8 million bicycles across the city also bring unique
difficulties to traffic management, transport officials said.
(China
Daily July 2, 2002)