2.3. Report to the Seminar by Dr.Shizuo Iwata, Managing Director of ALMEC
I am very much honored to have a chance to make my presentation on mass transit development in HCMC on this occasion of JTCA seminar.
For HCMC, which has been explained, there are many studies and plans already. Everybody agrees that the mass transit is necessary and very urgent. But to meet a demand of the public transport in HCMC, only one single line will not be sufficient. We need a network of urban railway or the mass transit system. It is not only for transportation, but also makes very significant impact for the urban development as a whole. That means we need a very good planning and very strategic approach in developing the mass transit for HCMC.
Today, I would like to cover a number of topics.
First, it is urban transport situation in HCMC, based on existing materials; secondly, the need for and role of the mass transit system. What are the functions the mass transit system in HCMC can play? What are the constraints and what are the opportunities? Thirdly, that is the approach for sustainable development. A sustainable development means we should not operate only one line, we should, instead, develop a network in a way that it can be sustained financially, economically, socially and environmentally. And after that, in the end, I will also suggest what should be done in the next steps.
So first, what is the urban transport problem? That is congestion. Average travel speed has decreased to as low as 14km/h along the congested corridors. That is the increasing number of traffic accidents, in which motorcycles are mostly involved. Statistics said that 76% of traffic accidents are involved with motorcycles. And 73% of fatal accidents involved motorcycles. And then, it is the increase of pollution in terms of air quality and noise. Parking place is also a problem. Particularly, poor public transport has been affecting urban transport situation in HCMC.
These problems are causing various losses. Economic losses are very great, sometimes several percent of GDP of the city. Traffic safety has been decreasing, the health of the people has been damaged, amenity and comfort has been decreased; effective land use tampered by transport problems.
Due to this, competitiveness of the city and its ability has been decreasing very rapidly. And this affects especially the poor, who cannot afford to purchase motorcycles. What are the root-causes of the transport problems? Of course, those are transport infrastructure development. HCMC as well as many other cities lack completely the infrastructure in terms of roads and other transport modes.
With regard to the future demand, motorized traffic volume will increase sharply because income will grow fast and more people will own motorcycles and cars. In terms of the trip rate, which means the number of trip/person/day, of the motorized mode is only 1.7 compared to 1.8.
Traffic congestion on roads will be accelerated because motorized traffic volume will grow, then average number of motorcycles will decrease. Now you see not only in HCMC, sometimes, three or four people are riding a motorcycle.
