Existing Urban Public Transportation System and its Operations and Usage

摘要

In Osaka City, a new urban center is being developed in the waterfront area to decentralize the excessively concentrated business activities. In order to connect the newly developed center and the existing urban center, two subway lines are being planned. Future railway plans are in Osaka City's Master Plan, which comes from the Report No. 10 of the Council for Transport Policy issued in 1989. One of the two subway new lines is now planned along the north-to-south corridor in the east area of Osaka City. This area is highly populated and the development of public and private housing is in process. Now, this area has minimal railway service. The construction of the new line, the subway Line No.8, is going to start in 1999 and should be completed by 2006. Another new subway line, which is called "Hokko Techno-port Line", connects a reclaimed island with the city center. It provides the important rail access to "Maishima Island" and "Yumeshima Island", the sites of the Olympic Games, which Osaka City is hosting in 2008. This line will connect with the subway Line No.4 and OTS Line, and the mutual through service will be provided. In order to have a city with amenities and comfort for the coming new century, and if the environment of the earth and energy efficiency are considered, it is absolutely necessary for Osaka City to control the use of private automobile, to shift automobile trips to public transit, and to keep an adequate balance between automobiles and mass transit. The subway has the least estimated damage to the environment with very little noise and vibration and needs less energy per person transported. It is indispensable to develop the public transportation network, which consists of subway, bus, and other public transit like LRT (Light Rail Transit), or APM (Automated People Mover). A large amount of money is needed for the subway construction. It is a very important issue to reduce the construction cost of the subway.