Jiao Yang, spokesperson for Shanghai Municipal Government, on March 28
released on the Internet the city government¡¯s guidelines for giving priority to
the development of public transport. The guidelines, which spell out the major
goals and tasks for Shanghai¡¯s public transport development, were discussed and
passed at a recent meeting of the city government. Li Wenhui, director of the
Shanghai Transport Bureau, answered questions by reporters about the guidelines
through the Internet.
I. General information of the city¡¯s public transport
There are 940 bus lines in Shanghai at present. The number of operational
buses is about 18,000, including more than 9,500 air-conditioned and high-end
buses -- more than a half of the total. Excluding the magnetic-levitation line,
there are five Metro lines in the city, whose combined length is about 145
kilometers. There are also 45,000 taxis. The daily passenger volume handled by
the city¡¯s public transport system averaged approximately 12.25 million last
year, accounting for 25.5 percent of the total traffic, up from 19.6 percent in
2000. Buses and trolley buses transported about 7.48 million passengers on
average every day, or 61 percent of the total public transport load. Metro lines
handled about 1.8 million passengers every day, accounting for 15 percent. And
taxis took 2.96 million passengers every day, accounting for 24 percent. Public
transport is a major convenience for people¡¯s daily travel.
II. Background and meaning of priority for development of public transport
The priority for development of the city¡¯s public transport system is a solid
step in the implementation of the central government¡¯s strategic decision.
Priority will be given to public transport in planning and construction, the
allocation of roads and policy-making.
Since the 1990s, the city¡¯s public transport has made notable progress in
many aspects, such as planning, construction and management, thanks to the
leadership of the incumbent municipal officials during the period and a
concerted effort made by all the city¡¯s residents. The public vehicles citizens
take every day are becoming more and more comfortable. Transfer between buses,
subways and different mass transit is becoming increasingly convenient. Traffic
congestion has also improved but the situation is still tough overall, and not
so optimistic. According to a survey, the average passing speed on the three
west-east arteries and the three north-south arteries in the downtown area was
16.6 kilometers per hour in 2006. The speed on the western north-south artery
was only 12 kilometers an hour. Meanwhile, citizens are expecting more from
public transport development as Shanghai steps up efforts to build itself into
an international metropolis. According to state requirements and taking the
city¡¯s status quo and the demand for public transport development into account,
it is necessary for the city to develop public transport as a priority in the
next period. Its meaning can be clarified in four aspects, namely:
1. Priority for development of the city¡¯s public transport is a significant
step in building a harmonious socialist society. Public transport is a daily
issue that concerns citizens most closely and directly. Giving priority to the
development of public transport can keep improving the operation of public
transport, ameliorate public transport services, satisfy local residents¡¯demands
for reliable daily travel and alleviate traffic congestion. It will boost the
harmony of traffic and the harmony of a society.
2. Priority for development of the city¡¯s public transport will help increase
the competitive edge of Shanghai, as an international city. Shanghai still has a
gap with developed metropolises in the world in many aspects, including the
proportion of the traffic load that public transport shoulders, the service
quality and the operational efficiency. To build¡°four centers¡±and fulfill
the¡°four leads¡±task, required by the central government, Shanghai must adhere to
the strategy giving priority to the development in public transport. Shanghai
must develop a public transport system that can match the city¡¯s size,
population and its economic and social development level, sharpening Shanghai¡¯s
international competitive edge.
3. Priority for development of the city¡¯s public transport is an important
way to build a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society. Shanghai,
as a super large, densely populated city, is relatively short of resources and
energy. Developing the car as a major vehicle will occupy more land, consume
more energy and produce more pollution. It will deteriorate urban land, energy
and the environment. The city will use public transport as a strategy to change
the city¡¯s developmental pattern, which will effectively reduce energy
consumption, save land use and improve the city¡¯s ecology and environment.
4. Priority for development of the city¡¯s public transport is a significant
measure to ensure the success of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai. The daily volume
of visitors to the World Expo is forecast to average 400,000 to 600,000. And
such a situation will last for a half year, making it a must to make use of
public transport. The advantages of public transport, such as mass coverage, a
big handling capacity and convenience, should also be fully utilized in order to
absorb as much traffic as possible.
III. Measures and objectives of the priority for the development of public
transport. In compliance with requirement of the State Council and the Shanghai
Municipal Government, the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission and the
Shanghai Construction and Transportation Committee, teaming with other major
municipal agencies, including the Shanghai Transportation Bureau, the Shanghai
State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the Shanghai Finance
Bureau and the Shanghai Audit Office, have set up a task force to do a public
transport survey. The task force conducted a one-year survey of the city¡¯s road
transport industry from October 2005. Based on the survey results and the
current situation of Shanghai as a megacity, the Guidelines make clear the
objectives and measures on developing public transport as a priority. 1.
Clarifying objectives. By 2010, Shanghai public transport volume will take more
than 33 percent of the total traffic. Metro lines will contribute by carrying
more than 30 percent of the public transport volume. There will be a bus stop
within 500 meters in urban areas and within 300 meters in the downtown area. A
trip from any place to another in the downtown area should be completed within
one hour. In the suburbs, Metro lines can be reached with one transfer and when
travelling from one town to the town center there should be no transfer. 2.
Improving facilities. The design, construction, completion and operation of
public transport infrastructure are given equal importance. By 2010, the Metro
network will stretch 400 kilometres, cover more than 280 stations and be capable
of delivering five million passengers a day. During the 11th Five-Year Plan
period, 60 public transport hubs will be built and renovated. Five thousand new
bus parking spaces will be created. The proportion of buses in operation that
reach the National III emission standard will be 35 percent. There should be
optimising of connections between the Metro and buses and increasing operational
efficiency in order to facilitate transfers and travel. The construction of
bus-exclusive lanes should by kept up and the construction of a 15-kilomiter BRT
line from Shanghai South Railway Station to Shanghai West Railway Station should
be started. 3. Regulating market. Follow the principle that balances the public
nature and a market-oriented operation. Adhere to the principle of state
control, multiple participation, massive operation and orderly competition.
Regulate the market and improve the service quality. Guarantee the interests of
employees in the industry to stabilize the team. 4. Making preferential
policies. Improve the administrative system for urban transport. Beef up support
from policy and finance. Carry out research on the policy of a unified
management of bus companies¡¯road maintenance fees, to prepare for the
unification of bus ticket prices. Taking both the social effect and business
benefits into consideration, scientifically price bus tickets and introduce the
transfer preferential policy to more bus lines. Step up efforts to introduce a
preferential policy for transfers between buses and Metro. Study the plan to
introduce diverse ticket forms, such as daily tickets and weekly tickets.
Provide a special discount for senior citizens and students on buses to reducing
citizen¡¯s cost in daily travel.
IV. Key work this year
This year is the first year to implement the guidelines of giving priority to
the development of the city¡¯s public transport. Following are the key points for
this year¡¯s work:
-- draft a three-year plan for the priority of development of the city¡¯s
public transport;
-- launch Metro Line 6, the first phase of Line 8 and the first phase of Line
9 on a trial basis, extending the city¡¯s operational Metro network to more than
260 kilometers;
-- introduce a preferential transfer policy on all bus lines within the Inner
Ring Road, implement the special preference for senior citizens on buses, study
and draft the preferential policy for transfers between Metro and buses and
study the and draft the plan to introduce diversified bus tickets;
-- continue to optimize the network of bus lines;
-- speed up development of public transport in the countryside, open rapid
bus lines, including lines linking the downtown to suburbs and point-to-point
lines, add 25 country bus lines;
-- put 1,750 buses meeting the National III emission standard into use;
-- step up the restructuring of bus companies in remote suburbs;
-- improve the management of school buses and of shuttle buses run by
supermarkets;
-- step up the construction of public transport hubs, bus-only lanes and
public transport information distribution;
-- hold public transport promotional activities,¡°A week of urban public
transport¡±and¡°A day of no private cars.¡±