The development of high-speed traffic networks is steadily under way, including
the development of Shinkansen lines, the promotion of trunk railway lines activation
projects, the development of airports, the extension of high-speed motorways
and the resultant extension of high-speed bus routes.
Our long-term goal is that, from the standpoint of expanding a one-day travel
range as far as possible throughout the country by eliminating regional gaps
in high-speed services, it is necessary to ensure access to more than one high-speed
traffic system within one hour or so from any local city. In view of increased
regional interdependency, it is also necessary to develop and improve traffic
arteries so that their stability and availability can be enhanced.
As for the construction of new Shinkansen lines, the sequence of starting
construction work was decided through agreement between the government and the
ruling party at the end of August, 1988: construction work on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
will be started on a full scale during fiscal 1989, and a conclusion about specific
work procedures will be reached by the end of December, 1988.
In the process of compiling the national budget for fiscal 1989, the government
and the ruling party in January 1988 decided on such matters as 1 full-scale
construction work on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Takasaki-Karuizawa) starting from
fiscal 1989; 2 construction costs to be shared by JR, the nation and the region
concerned; and 3 the rate of burdens to be borne by JR and financial resources.
As motorization is entering the stage of maturity and as lifestyles are changing
with increased income and a stronger desire to enjoy free time, holding private
cars is undergoing a change, as shown by the recent increase in the number of
households holding more than one car. At the same time, users' needs for private
cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated, diversified and individualized
with the affluence of life. (Fig.
12)
When the trend of new needs for private cars is taken into consideration,
it is clear that public needs cannot be satisfied by the development and improvement
of public transportation alone as in the past. We need to re-examine the role
originally required of public transportation and try to realize it. We believe
that time has come to study, on the basis of such efforts, a new role of private
cars and public transportation in future society, so that they can complement
each other.
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