For this purpose, MOT is promoting the bus service improvement plan in cities by improving the bus travelling environment by ? asking the assistance of Prefectural Public Safety Commissions for installing exclusive-use lanes for buses and is giving guidance to improving bus vehicles, station facilities, etc., and further ? by giving subsidies to various attempts showing the direction of new urban buses such as the Urban New Bus System, etc.
(2) Advancing Construction of Urban New Bus System
The Urban New Bus System performs, on major bus roultes which become the basis of the urban traffic system, installation of exclusive bus lanes and the following comprehensive construction:
(a)To introduce the bus route comprehensive control system, to relieve "bus operation at close vehicle intervals" using central administration of bus operation by computer control, and to indicate bus approaching at the bus stop by completion of the bus location system to eliminate the feeling of irritation for bus waiting.
(b)To enhance the comfort of bus transportation by introducing urban-type buses provided with low floors, wide doors, a room conditioner, large-sized windows, etc.
(c)To improve the convenience of bus transpor-tation by installing bus-stop facilities provided with a shelter and a lighting-type pole. The above system has been introduced in 13 cities (Tokyo, Niigata, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Toyama, Kobe, Hamamatsu, Fukui, Sabae, Takeo and Aomori).
6 Fulfillment of Railway
Transportation Service Railways are a form of public transportation with superior volume capacity, and is punctual and safe. However, due to improvements in the peoples standard of living, there is a demand for comfortableness and convenience in railway transportation also, thus creating a necessity to present higher quality service.
(1)Improvement in Convenience and Comfortableness
(a)Improvement in Station Facilities
As for improvements in the railway station facilities, passengers' movements has become smoother by widened hallways, staircases and platforms. The smoother movement of passengers is contributing to alleviating congestion, preventing hazards and shortening commuting time. Also, in consideration of preserving convenience for the aged and handicapped people, MOT offers guidance in improving facilities in the users' point of view. Individual railway companies also plan to provide escalators, wheelchair hallways, leading blocks, and toilets for handicapped people.
(b) Improvement in the peoples' standard of living creates a demand for even more comfortable cars.
In response to such demand, as a result of steady development of new-typed and renovated cars, the cooler installation ratio for six passenger train companies (JR) amounted to 95.5%, and the ratio of that of 15 privately operated railway companies was 99.0%. Furthermore, cooler installationratio in subways is 94.0%.
In addition to cooler installation, an improvement in living-comfort qualities in commuter trains is being promoted, such as a computer controlled air ventilation system, facilities enabling receipt of AM and FM radio waves, and enlargement of windows. In order to increase the number seats. Double deckers have been introduced, and the free-stop style reclining rotating seat is used in express trains, and improvement of living comfort qualities is being made by installing crystal screen television and audio sets, and such.
(c)Mutually Agreed Extension of Railways
In metropolitan areas, the railway network is composed of numerous railway companies, and thus is absolutely necessary to eliminate transiting difficulties for improvements is passenger convenience. Therefore, it is increasingly important to proceed with mutual railway extensions and to improve transit stations' facilities.
With regards to the Tokyo area, mutual extension by 11 companies have been realized, and as of June 1, 1995, the distance of such has become 832.4 1cm: Also, on a nation-wide basis, as of June 1, 1995, including mutual extensions of passenger train companies (JR) and third sector railways, extension of 49 companies, or 3,473.2 km has been realized.
