## (4) Enhancement of the urban railway network

The urban railway network has expanded to a considerable extent through development with an emphasis on strengthening transportability and resolving traffic congestion. Although the tendency for there to be overcrowding during commuting hours in major metropolitan areas has decreased due to a decrease in children and aging, the overcrowding rate is still high and is over 180% on some railway lines, and it is necessary to continuously take corresponding measures for resolving overcrowding.

In addition, although the urban railway network is almost completed, the further enhancement of the urban railway network is being worked out, through the effective utilization of existing facilities, the utilization of the “Act on Improving the

Convenience of Urban Railways" that works on speed enhancement and the sophistication of traffic knot functions and continues the development of a direct route between Sagami Railway and Japan Railway (JR) and a direct route between Sagami Railway and Tokyu Railway; and improves user convenience, etc.

Transition in the average ratio of congestion, transportation capacity and passengers in the most-crowded zones in the 3 largest metropolitan areas. (index:100= fiscal 50 years)

: Congestion rate

: Transportation capacity (index: 50 fiscal year =100)

: Passengers carried(index: 50 fiscal year =100)

Tokyo Area 31 zones Osaka Area 20 zones Nagoya Area 8 zones

(Note) The report of the Transport Policy Council (current Transportation Policy Council) (August, 2000) provides the indication of congestion ratios and states that each congestion ratio of all zones of the city railways in large metropolitan areas must be reduced under 150%. (In the Tokyo area, the overall average congestion ratio of main zones must be reduced to under 150% for the time being, at the same time, the ratio of each zone to under 180%).

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Urban annual traffic report, etc.

Major new city railway lines under development

Name of Developer	Name of Line	Zone	Opening schedule
Sendai City	Tozai Line	Dobutsu-Koen- Arai	Fiscal year 2015
Narita High-Speed Railway Access (Type III railway business)	Narita High-Speed Railway Access Line	Imba Japan Medical College - Narita Airport High-Aped Eailway Line connection point	Fiscal year 2010
Nagoya City	Line 6 (Sakuradori Line)	Nonami - Tokushige	Fiscal year 2014
Osaka Soto-Kanjo Railway (Type III railway business)	Osaka east line	Shin-Osaka - Hanaten	Fiscal year 2018
Osaka Port Transport System	Hokko Technoport Line	Cosmo Square - Shin-Sakurajima	Fiscal year 2012

## (5) Development of urban monorails, new transportation systems and LRT (Light Rail Transit)

At the same time, to clarify mobility assurance for dealing with few children and the aging of society, the development of LRT etc. is being supported in order to push forward urban traffic smoothness, environmental burden reduction and the use of transfers to public transport from the viewpoint of central urban district invigoration. In FY 2009, support was provided for the development of a local train loop-line (Toyama City), which has started to operate as LRT utilizing a method of separating infrastructure and service management.

Belt line tram (Toyama City) (Service started in December, 2009)

## (6) Improvement of bus convenience

Beginning with omnibus development that pushes forward road development focused on buses, various actions are taken for improving convenience. Actions include the improvement of punctuality and speed by utilizing the public transport priority system (PTPS) and bus lanes, the introduction of the bus location system that provides bus location information, and the introduction of an IC card system that enables smoothness when getting on/off the bus.