Chapter　2　 Development and Improvement of Passenger Transport Systems

1.　Development of Traffic Arteries

　 　The development of high-speed traffic networks is currently under way, including the construction of new additional Shinkansen lines, the promotion of trunk railway line projects, the furtherance of three major airport construction projects, the extension of expressway networks and high-speed bus routes (Fig. 12, Table 5).
　 　The Ministry of Transport's long-term goal is to expand, as far as possible, the range of one-day travel throughout the country by eliminating regional gaps in high-speed transport services. Viewed from this standpoint, there is a need to develop and improve traffic arteries to provide access to plural high-speed transport systems within one hour from any local city and also to secure greater stability and convenience of traffic networks by expanding inter-regional interdependency.

2.　Improvement of Local Transport systems

(1)　In major urban areas, efforts are being made in accordance with recommendations by the Council for Transport Policy, the Ministry of Transport, to upgrade public transport systems and make them more convenient and more efficient.
　 　With respect to railways, efforts are also being exerted to improve systematically and steadily JR lines, subways,new town railways, and major private railway lines. At the same time, the circles concerned are studying the construction of the projected Joban New Line as a project to be undertaken for the time being under the newly promulgated '
　 　Again, efforts are being made to promote the improvement of transport services, including the activation of bus traffic and the sophistication of taxi services. Furthermore, in order to cope with rising demand for midnight transport services in major urban areas, including Tokyo, efforts are being exerted to expand midnight transport capacities through the introduction of midnight express buses and urban-type taxi-pooling, in addition to the operation of conventional midnight buses and blueline taxis, and the reinforcement of midnight railway transportation capacities (Table 6).
　 　In local nucleus cities, in order to upgrade their functions and make them attractive localities, efforts ame being made to increase the convenience of public transport services through the expansion of traffic facilities and improve public transport in accordance with regional traffic plans.
(2)　In local cities, public transport business has continued to deteriorate, affected by decreases in the number of passengers as a result of the progress of motorization. The situation is such that a means of transport for people who have no choice but to utilize public transport systems must now be developed.
　 　Hence, the Ministry of Transport, with the cooperation of local governments, is exerting efforts to help smalles private railway companies, local bus companies and improve services.