## Secure Transportation Systems Resistant to Disasters

## (1) Ensuring Redundancy and Substitutability

Rails, ports, airports, and other facilities are being made disaster resistant and an emergency transport framework for rescue, restoration activities, business continuity is being established to ensure redundancy, and substitutability efforts are being made to secure the safety of users.

The road network functions as emergency transport during disasters to facilitate early relief, fulfilling its function as a “lifeline”.

## (2) Road Disaster Prevention Measures

To support the emergency lifesaving and restoration assistance activities in the event of large-scale disasters, development of missing links for securing substitutability, disaster measures (measures for slopes, embankments, etc.), earthquake disaster measures (seismic reinforcement, etc.), and snow/cold region measures (development of anti-snow facilities) are being promoted. Additionally, supplementing traffic facilities with disaster prevention functions (turning $ Michi-no-Eki $ , service and parking areas into disaster prevention bases, as well as developing emergency lines of communication and fire escapes) were promoted. In June, 2013 the Road Law, was amended to promote the conclusion of disaster alliances with private sector businesses to implement swift road openings and the establishment of a council for road administrators to create a framework that keeps roads open. In addition, based on the “Disaster Countermeasure Basic Act” amended in November, 2014, development of the system and equipment that allow road administrators to smoothly move vehicles for swift removal of road obstacles is being promoted.

Also, big data such as ETC2.0 probe information and private probe information are used effectively to grasp early damage situations, thus enhancing initial responses.

Meanwhile, for regions that sustained devastating damage from the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, road development is being carried out as part of urban area development prioritized in the recovery plan and the development of access roads to expressway interchanges is being promoted. Additionally, as one measure to reduce tsunami damage, sea level indicator sheets are being added to road sign posts to promote the provision of sea level information to road users.

## (3) Accelerating the elimination of utility poles

Utility-pole-free town development is being promoted to prevent utility poles from falling down in the event of disasters, such as earthquakes, and thus blocking the passage of emergency vehicles, etc. In addition, development concurrent with new construction or widening of roads is being promoted and studies are being conducted with the related organizations to introduce low-cost methods, such as direct burying and use of small-sized boxes.

## (4) Disaster Prevention Measures for Various Transportation Modes

For railways, subsidies are provided to partially cover the costs of improvement projects such as disaster prevention projects carried out by passenger rail companies including rockfall and avalanche measures as well as coastal protection and improvement projects carried out by Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (Incorporated Administrative Agency) to maintain the function of the Seikan Tunnel such as the improvement of substations and train control facilities.

For ports, in order to secure the port functions and maintain regional economic activities during disasters as well as achieve early restoration of facilities affected by disasters, a Port BCP has been created and the Wide Area Port Disaster Councils and others have been established for the national government, port authority, port users, and others to work together to promote the establishment of a cooperative framework.

For airports, in addition to serving as the base of emergency life-saving activities and emergency transport when earthquakes and other disasters occur, airports are considered important from the perspective of maintaining air transport to maintain the aviation network and ensure the continuity of hinterland economic activity. For such important airports, seismic strengthening is being carried out for government facilities critical to ensure necessary control functions as well as basic facilities that are absolutely essential. For such important airports, seismic strengthening is being carried out for government facilities critical to ensure necessary control functions as well as basic facilities that are absolutely essential.