The Bangkok metropolitan area has a population of about 6 million, or 10% of the whole country.
The transportation means within the city of Bangkok is limited to traffic by road and there is no rail aided transportation facilities.
The traffic condition in the city is aggravating year after year and according to some survey reports, the average speed of cars in the city center which was 8.1 km/h in 1989, lowered down to 4 km/h in 1993. (See Figure 2.5 -2 which introduces the traffic jam in the center of Bangkok.)
In order to solve this situation probably the worst in the world, several projects have been planned and some implemented. (See Figure 2.5 -3.)
(1) The Hopewell Project (See Figure 2.5 -4)
Exploiting the existing right-of-way of SRT extending radially from Bangkok, this project envisages a 60 km mass transit system that connects the city center with the suburbs crosswise.
There will be constructed three-stoned structures on the SRT right-of-way where the ground floor will be used for commercial purposes, the first floor for the existing SRT railways and new commuter railways, and the top floor space will be used for toll speed-way. The project organizers are SRT and Hopewell Holding Co. and the project is to be pursued according to the BOT method.
The project is to be launched in 1993 and the first phase is expected to be completed in 1998.
(2) Thanayong Project
A 23 km long elevated LRT system is planned that will connect the eastward main road (Sukhumvit Rd.) in the city center and Silom Rd, in the north of the city
