(1) Aiming at Solving Tokyo Problem
To realize an affluent and comfortable society in name and fact, we have
to solve various urban problems; particularly to solve the Tokyo problems, we
will promote various measures with the aim of building a multi-nucleus, multi-core
type of urban structure and of realizing an affluent urban life. We have the
following measures in mind: @ the alleviation of congestion during rush hours,
the reduction of time required to go to work or school, and the development
of urban railways which would make it possible to develop a large amount of
housing land; A transport-related measures for alleviating the congestion of
road traffic; B measures for ensuring late-night mobility in anticipation of
24-hour urbanization; C effective use of spaces, including Tokyo's water front;
D the promotion of pilot projects, such as a freight villa, effective in creating
an excellent living environment. As the development of urban railways has become
increasingly difficult, we have to use new ideas more seriously than ever for
such projects. Therefore, we nead to @study new legislation that will facilitate
land acquisition and the construction of a subway system on very deep levels
designed to reduce land-acquisition costs (Fig.
5) and A promote the development of urban railway combined with the development
of housing land in order to build new lines that link the city center and suburbs
and will have a great housing land development effect.
Note. | Deep Underground Subways This plan permits a railway operator to build a subway system in very deep undergsound space, usually not in use by the owner of the land immediately above it, without having to establish its own private rights there and pay compensation to the landlord. |
(2) Promotion of Local Industry and Improvement of Life
As most urban functions are being concentrated in the Tokyo area, there
is a concern that local vitality may decline; it is thus hoped that a positive
local activation measure will be taken.
It is first necessary to disperse various functions, now excessively concentrated
in the Tokyo area, build trunk-line networks that will promote interchange among
such economic spheres, and create a system enabling local areas to communicate
directly with other countries in response to the current of closer relationship
to the world.
To highten local attractiveness and encourage local people to settle down,
it is necessary to build a high-speed traffic network, as well as to maintain
and improve local traffic systems, including commuter airlines. From the standpoint
of increasing employment opportunities and income, we will endeavor to promote
tourism, events and industry making use of terminals and the private sector's
vitality.
(3) Effective Use of Free Time and Society Open to the World
To enable the people to use free time effectively and enhance mutual international
understanding by encouraging foreigners to visit Japan, we will promote the
"Tourism Action Program in the 1990s" (TAP 90's),
(Fig. 6) and implement various measures comprehensively and systematically,
including the development of resorts, New Site of Discovery (model zones for
international tourism) and the promotion of conventions. Although the number
of Japanese travelling abroad is increasing steadily, it is still smaller than
those of other advanced countries. (Fig.
7) Thus, we will further promote the program for Doubling Japanese Tourists
Going Abroad (Ten Million Program) Which will help promote international good
will and correct the imbalance in the balance of payments.
We are committed to continued international cooperation, and to dealing
with external economic issues in a positive way. We realize that transport-related
projeced, which play a major role in Japan's international cooperatin, are indispensable
for sound socioeconomic growth of developing countries. Japan is being requested
to extend such economic cooperation (both financial and technical) commensurate
with its international position. Consequently, we will actively promote an even
greater level of international coopernation than before. (Figs.
8 and 9)
(1) New Frontiers of Transport Industry
Transport-related new services have made rapid progress in recent years.
Such a trend is regarded as a forerunner of a high-level service society and
is prepared to meet the diversified, high-level needs of people, homes and offices
standing in the vanguard of the age. At present, these transport-related new
services are being screened in accordance with their capacity, that is, to what
extent users' diverse, high-level needs can be satisfied. New service operators
are requested to survive this rigorous competition by fully satisfying such
public needs using their originality.
(2) Development of Water Fronts
There has been a growing public interest in maritime recreation activity
in recent years, and the rate of people holding pleasure boats and equipment
is rising rapidly. However, the spread of maritime recreation activity has raised
many problems regarding safety and the construction of marinas. To establish
the foundation for maritime recreation activity by the end of the 1990s, we
have worked out the "Marine '99 Program." (Fig.
10) We will push this program through various endeavors, including the development
of marinas in line with the "National Marina Development Plan," the development
of water-front facilities and the promotion of overseas travel by ocean-going
passenger ships.
Water fronts have played a vital role in supporting Japan's development.
While some water fronts see a decline in their functions as a result of socioeconomic
changes, some others are requested to meet more diverse and high-level requirements
than ever before. By re-developing inner harbors, the Ministry of Transport
has promoted the construction of bases for activating local industry and ports,
as well as the development of industrial, commercial and cultural facilities,
in response to diverse social needs.
The Ministry of Transport will promote plans to construct offshore man-made
islands in waters with a relatively low rate of use, thereby responding to diverse
needs for land in coastal areas making use of water fronts. At the same time,
the Ministry will promote the comprehensive use of surrounding sea areas, particularly
the highly useful calm sea areas to be created behind such artificial islands.
(3) Challenge to the Future
The Ministry of Transport will promote the development of various transport-related
technologies which are expected to open up new possibilities in social and economic
fields in 21st-century Japan. Among them are the development of a linear motor
car (magnetic levitation railway), the development of new shipbuilding techniques,
the development and use of satellites such as a multi-purpose satellite system,
the development and study of maritime structures to be built off shore, the
development of port and harbor technology, including under water inspection
robots, the development of technology for aircraft's safe operation including
a airborne collision avoidance system, and the development of technology for
earthquake and weather predictions.
Toward an information-intensive society, the Ministry of Transport will promote various measures, such as making reservations easy, popular use of prepaid cards, and effective use of travel time. At the same time, the Ministry will endeavor to make multilateral use of transport-related facilities, and promote, in the Metropolitan area, the "T Net Plan" which is designed to offer diverse services using the wide-area information network of transport-related comanies.
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