Part III : How to Conduct SEA?
 Transportation Strategies and Policies

Nature and Scope

Aimed at facilitating the formulation of a “win-win” strategy / policy which can best meet transport (social) and environmental needs plus financial/economic requirements.

Considerations

For long term sustainability, the following issues are key factors to be considered:

  • mode of transport;
  • alternatives and needs;
  • rail or road;
  • alignment options;
  • integration with environmental and landuse planning;
  • traffic management and control;
  • use of advance vehicle technologies.

Examples

CTS3 and RDS2 are among examples of SEA of transportation strategies and policies. The key points of the examples are shown in Table 3 below while project descriptions of the two studies are in Project Descriptions of Key SEA Examples.

Table 3 - Examples of SEA Applying in Transportation Strategies and Policies

Study



Key Sectors
Involved


Scale

Dimension of Environmental
Issues
Strategic Environmental
Concerns and Foci

CTS3   Transportation Territory wide cross boundary population from 6.8M in mid-1999 to 8.9M in 2016
Territorial
District
Local
Environmental implications due to different transport modes, policies and major development were identified. Environmental constraints on further strategic transport developments were examined in which key concerns were air pollution and traffic noise. Ecological profile was identified to avoid strategic transport infrastructures from being developed in environmentally sensitive areas.
           
RDS2   Transportation, Fuel consumption, Land Use Territory wide cross boundary population from 6.8M in mid-1999 to 8.9M in 2016
Territorial
District
Local
Formulating a preferred rail network that can maximize environmental benefits and avoid adverse environmental impacts as far as possible. Potential environmental implications due to the railway development options, including indirect effects and benefits of reducing air pollution were identified and compared with the use of road transport.

Process

In many cases, qualitative analysis is made together with quantitative evaluations with a focus on comparing different scenarios. As there would be many uncertainties and assumptions behind the scenarios, certain extent of “professional judgments” would be involved during the process.

A typical SEA process for this type of PPP, by referring to the case of RDS2, is presented in Figure 18 below.
Figure 18 - A Typical SEA Process for Transportation Strategies and Policies - The Case of Second Railway Development Study
Figure 18 - A Typical SEA Process for Transportation Strategies and Policies – The Case of Second Railway Development Study

Focus of SEA for RDS2

Annex A – Economic Appraisal of the Environmental Costs and Benefits of New Railways

  • Traditional Project Appraisals in Hong Kong
  • Environmental Valuation Tools
  • Environmental Economics and Railway Development
  • Mechanisms for “Capturing” Benefits to the community

Annex B – Comparative Assessment of Road vs. Rail

  • Project appraisal of Highway and Railway projects
  • Air quality implications
  • Noise performance
  • Landtake and landuse implications
  • Transport safety