PRINCIPAL POLICIES OF THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

Efficient, Barrier-free Transportation

Following the opening of the Oedo Line, subway lines managed by the TMG (the Toei lines) cover about 109 kilometers. The metropolitan subway, buses and streetcar systems are used every day by 2.65 million passengers (fiscal 2002) and perform an essential role in Tokyo's public transport network.

As a publicly-administered local company, the Bureau of Transport intends to upgrade the public transport network by making further improvements in safety, demonstrating a more sensitive response to environmental concerns and welfare, and making the network easier for all to use. To this end, the Bureau drew up the Bureau of Transportation Management Plan (known as "Challenge 2001") in March 2001, and is currently working intensively to realize the targets specified in this plan.

Toei Subway Lines

The Toei subway network consists of four lines (Asakusa Line, Mita Line, Shinjuku Line, Oedo Line) covering a distance of 109 kilometers with 106 stations. The network is used by an average of 1.98 million people every day. The most recent addition to the network is the Oedo Line, which has elevators and escalators at every station, allowing passengers to easily access street-level exits. To facilitate use by people in wheelchairs a space is provided beneath the counter of each ticket machine, and the automatic ticket gates have wide berths. The toilets inside the stations are equipped with seats for babies, and are readily accessible to wheelchair users. Various measures are being taken on other lines, too, to facilitate use by passengers in wheelchairs, for example by providing elevators between the ground level and the platform.

Station entrance

Toei Buses

Toei buses operate throughout the 23 special-ward district of Tokyo and in part of the Tama area. There are 132 lines used every day by an average of 610,000 passengers. Traffic congestion means that it is not always possible for buses to run according to schedule. To deal with this problem and to enhance passengers' convenience, the Bus Operational Control System has been introduced, whereby machines installed inside the buses automatically assess the state of operation and relay to bus stops information on how long passengers will need to wait for the arrival of their next bus. In addition, a website is available on up-to-date operations and this can be accessed using mobile phones. There are also 417 easy-to-board buses without steps, and efforts are now under way to introduce environmentally-friendly buses that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). 136 such buses are currently in operation.