Measures to promote ITS
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been actively promoting ITS and the nationwide information highway with the following aims: to find solutions to road traffic problems such as congestion, accidents, and impact on the environment; to promote economic growth by creating new markets and industries; to enhance the quality of life; to activate regional development; and to make Japan a safe place to live.
With respect to ITS, the Ministry has been promoting the development of system standards to assure compatibility and interconnectability among different systems, and the research, development, and implementation of the system. These activities have been pursued in cooperation with various relevant domestic and international organizations, at the same time maintaining compliance with international standards. These efforts shall culminate in the construction of social infrastructures that fully support various ITS services, and the new generation roads (Smartway) that function as a common platform for ITS.

The budget for the improvement of and the research and development on ITS technology for roads increased by 24% from the previous year to JPY 70 billion, and that for information highways by 2% from the previous year to JPY 323.1 billion.

Budget for ITS for roads (Unit of budget: 100 million yen)

	Budget for fiscal 2001	Budget for fiscal 2000	Increase rate
Improvement of and research and development on ITS	700	566	1.24
Promotion of ITS infrastructure improvement (e.g. ETC)	618	484	1.28
Comprehensive promotion of research and development	82	82	1.00

	Budget for fiscal 2001	Budget for fiscal 2000	Increase rate
Creation of information highway	3,231	3,175	1.02
Projects to construct spaces for housing fiber-optic cables	3,014	3,000	1.01
Projects to improve fiber-optic cables for road administration	217	175	1.24

Budget for activities other than the above

• Development of a new road society system utilizing ETC technology Cost for surveys on house and infrastructure improvement promotion: JPY 243 million
• Improvement of ETC roadside units (JPY 15 billion)

Development of Information Highway The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport aims to develop a nationwide optical fiber network of about 150,000 km in length, by 2010. "Information BOXes" that house optical fiber cables and other equipment are being installed nationwide, and optical fiber cables for road management are being laid. By making the information BOXes available for use by the telecommunication industry, the Ministry intends to quickly roll out a nationwide optical fiber network and to reduce telecommunication costs. Outline of information BOX installation

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