Human Mobility: Expectations for New Regional Public Transportation

In terms of the development of a nationwide high-speed transport network, the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa and the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate has been widely reported as revitalizing the areas along the lines, and urban development is also underway in anticipation of the future extensions. Furthermore, construction of the much anticipated Linear Shinkansen has also begun in earnest, and JR Central has announced that it will begin work on the extension west of Nagoya to Osaka as soon as possible by utilizing the Fiscal Investment and Loan Program.

The redevelopment of "station and town" spaces integrated with urban development will have a major impact on urban concentration and future urban regeneration and growth. In addition to the development of a national railway network, as represented by the development of the Shinkansen, Toyama City's urban development through the introduction of LRT (next-generation streetcars) is an advanced example of regional public transportation, and has a synergistic effect not only on transportation policies but also on housing policies and tourism policies. Due to this success, urban development that shifts from an overly reliant on automobiles to the formation of compact cities through the development and revitalization of new regional public transportation is being considered all over the country. This type of urban development is also attracting attention overseas as transit-oriented development (TOD), and the appearance of LRT at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games was a new sight, and it is spreading not only to Europe but also to the world.

In Japan, a new development is the approval of the LRT plan for the Utsunomiya area by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The LRT plan has three common issues: 1) securing space for the LRT, 2) division of roles with existing transport operators, and 3) raising project costs. Local agreement is important, and the project was approved after many twists and turns, but we will continue to pay attention to this project, which aims to limit the expansion of urban areas and transform the city into a compact structure.
In addition, the book "Bus Changes Towns: BRT Introduction Planning Methods" by Fumihiko Nakamura, Vice President of Yokohama National University, and others introduces advanced examples from overseas. The menu of public transportation in urban development is also improving, and we hope that the introduction of LRT and BRT (bus rapid transit systems) that are being planned by many local governments will solve the issues one by one, be developed, and become transportation and towns that are loved by everyone.

Among these trends, what I am very excited about is the BRT plan to connect the city center and the waterfront subcenter, which is planned to be developed and operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Keisei Bus. Although there are various issues, plans are being made to start BRT operation, targeting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The government's Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) plans to introduce technology development (ART) such as automatic driving systems for "safety and security" in public transportation, and the vehicles and station facilities are also considering symbolic and sophisticated designs. As a form of human mobility, I have high hopes for the arrival of BRT, which will make us feel the dawn of a new era in both function and design. I look forward to the realization of the total design concept advocated by both parties, "fostering attachment and pride in the region through the appeal of the route."
Furthermore, with the construction of three ring roads in the metropolitan area underway, automobile traffic volume in the city center is decreasing, and the corresponding reallocation of road space is increasing the possibility of introducing LRT and BRT on former metropolitan bus routes, which will likely lead to major advances in urban development.