Through the work of its Consulting division, Transport for London (TfL) has signed a deal with the Hong Kong Transport Department (HKTD) to help get more people walking in the Southeast Asian city.
TfL is helping Hong Kong to improve its wayfinding signage in the city by designing and constructing five bespoke plinths and seven posts and signs for use in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the most popular tourist areas.
The plinths and signage, which will be trialled in Hong Kong for three years, are based on TfL’s ‘Legible London’ signs, which were created in 2007 to help both residents and visitors walk to their destination more quickly and easily.
The trial is worth £95,000 (US$124,600) and if successful, the plinths and signage could potentially be installed in other parts of Hong Kong. There are now more than 1,700 Legible London signs across the UK capital and, in line with the mayor’s Transport Strategy, TfL is working with boroughs, businesses and other partners to install more signs across London.
The Hong Kong signs have been designed in-house by TfL, with most of the mapping and planning work undertaken by London-based businesses that had not previously done business in Hong Kong. TfL’s partners in the project include:
• Scheme design by Maynard Design Consultancy, based in Islington;
• Manufacturing by Trueform Engineering Ltd, based in Hayes;
• Mapping by T-Kartor, based and founded in Sweden, with office in London.
The overall contract total is £267,500 (US$360,900), with US$124,600 reinvested in the TfL network.
TfL Consulting is taking the agency’s experience, skills and expertise around the globe. Initial indications are that the greatest commercial potential comes from providing strategic transport planning services; the establishment and management of integrated control centers, fares and ticketing systems; and supporting the running of transport services.
TfL is ambitiously driving commercial revenues through property development, retail and commercial property estate, advertising, and the delivery of mobile coverage on the Tube from 2019.
In 2016, TfL signed a deal worth up to £15m (US$19.7m) with Cubic Transportation Systems, allowing it to adapt the capital’s contactless ticketing system worldwide. Since then, New York City, Miami and Boston in the USA and Sydney, Australia, have all announced that they plan to introduce contactless payments in the coming years.
“‘Legible London helps people find out for themselves how easy and fun it can be getting around and exploring London on foot. We hope the residents and visitors of Hong Kong have the same experience in their city and are encouraged to walk more as part of their everyday lives,” commented Helen Murphy, director of commercial consulting and international operations at TfL.
“It’s hugely exciting to have signed this deal. It is a great example of how we work with partners, sharing our unique experience, supporting other cities around the globe, and generating net revenues to reinvest in London’s transport network and we hope to replicate it in other parts of the world.”
