In order to improve bus punctuality, the following measures are taken in Japan:
1. Road infrastructure: Road development changes shuttle bus routes so that a bus can avoid going through congested area, and the development saves travel time and improves the reliability of travel time. In addition, Intersections are improved. New expressways or by-passes contributes to reduce traffic jams of bus routes improving operating environment for busses.
2. Bus lane: A Bus lane or bus only lane is a lane restricted to buses. Sometimes they are colored. Sometimes buses carry a camera to check illegal cars which run on the lane.
3. PTPS (Public Transport Priority Systems): PTPS is a traffic signal system, which changes the red light to green when a bus is approaching an intersection. In addition, the system alarms private cars using bus lane.

In recent years, the number of bus users has been decreasing by spreading private car users. Especially, in urban area, delay caused by chronic traffic jam affects reduction of bus users.

Road development decreases the travel time. For example, opening a part of Higashi Hiroshima-Kure Expressway (from Kamiminaga IC to Takaya JCT/IC) decreases travel time between JR Kure station and Hiroshima airport from 90 minutes to 80 minutes.
The length of road installing PTPS is 744.1km on 31 March 2010.
By installing PTPS in Matsue City, rate of bus punctuality increases from 23% to 63%.

Congestion, bus lane, PTPS, punctuality

Road Bureau and Road transport Bureau, MLIT Japan