Driving Environment Improvement Project (Southwest Totsuka Ward) to maintain and enhance bus routes

Due to a decrease in the number of route bus users and a shortage of drivers due to a declining birthrate and aging population, flights have been reduced in urban areas, making it difficult to maintain the current service level of the bus network. Therefore, in this project, in cooperation with bus operators, promotes the improvement of operating efficiency and the development of a driving environment to promote the redistribute of management resources resulting from it.

Last Updated September 18, 2024

We started operation of articulated bus from July 1, 2024.

Yokohama City and Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Co., Ltd. ("Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu") have been promoting public-private partnerships to maintain and enhance bus routes in the southwestern part of Totsuka Ward.
This time, the service of the articulated bus "Twin Liner" has started on Monday, July 1, 2024, and the bus network has been maintained and enhanced. （Reference materials (PDF: 988KB)）
In addition, the service start ceremony hosted by Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu was held on July 1, 2024.

Operation start ceremony

Initiatives to maintain bus routes in the southwestern part of Totsuka Ward

Yokohama City and Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu") are working to maintain bus routes in the southwestern part of Totsuka Ward, and are considering ways to improve the efficiency of major bus routes and redistribute the management resources generated by them to other routes to maintain a bus network throughout the area.

Overview of Efforts

Background of Initiatives: Decrease in bus service levels due to a decrease in the number of passengers and a shortage of crew members

In recent years, trends in the southwestern part of Totsuka Ward have changed significantly due to a decline in the number of users and changes in lifestyles due to the declining birthrate and aging population. In addition, due to the decrease and aging of large two-type license holders, the number of drivers is also insufficient, and it is necessary to adjust the number of operated flights (reduction of flights, etc.) according to the actual usage.
In addition, the balance of route buses has become even more severe due to telework and control of going out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a decrease in the number of users. → Deterioration of income and expenditures → Reduced flights → There may be a vicious cycle of a further decrease in the number of users.

Decrease in the number of users due to the COVID-19 pandemic (change in the number of route bus transport personnel in Kanto jurisdiction: 2019 standard) (Source: prepared by Yokohama City based on materials released by Kanto Transport Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)

What we aim for: Maintain bus network by improving operational efficiency and redistribution

Therefore, Yokohama City and Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu aim to maintain the bus network throughout the area as much as possible by redistributing the management resources of the bus operators that have been created to other routes while securing transportation capacity.
※In order to improve the income and expenditure, it is inevitable that flights will be reduced according to the actual usage, and even if a articulated bus is introduced, the service level of the entire area may decrease in the future.

Image of implementation of initiatives

Image of improvement of the vicious circle

Routes to be implemented and overall picture of the content of the implementation (weekdays)

※The contents of the initiatives to be implemented, the bus stop to stop, the operation interval, etc. are assumed at the present time, and may be changed depending on consultation with related parties and future usage situation.

Efforts
Routes to be implemented and overall picture of the content of the implementation (weekdays)

About road construction

・From 2023, we started road construction for the start of joint bus operation.
　(About construction point: bus news fifth (PDF: 1,872KB))
・Improvements were made to intersections, widening roads and bus bays, and relocating pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, and lighting poles.

Photograph of Osakadai bus stop construction
Before bus bay widening construction	After widening the bus bay

Photographs of construction near Dream Heights Intersection
Before road widening work	After widening the roadway

Opinion solicitation for this initiative (conducted from October 1 to October 21, 2021)

Thank you very much for your feedback.

・Contents of opinion solicitation
　Opinion solicitation form (PDF: 3,198KB)

・Results of opinion offer (Yokohama-shi bus network meeting (2021 second) document)
　Opinion offer result (PDF: 1,751KB)

About public information paper "Tozuka connected bus news"

We publish a public relations paper "Tozuka Connected Bus News" to provide an overview of this initiative and the progress.

List of Public Relations Papers
Fiscal year	Materials	Contents
2021	・No. 1 (issued in January 2022) 　Materials (PDF: 1,574KB)	・Background and Purpose of Initiatives ・About result of opinion offer
2021	・No. 2 (issued in March 2022) 　Materials (PDF: 1,231KB)	・Reasons for working on public-private partnerships ・Overview of Initiatives
2022	・Issue No. 3 (issued in July 2022) 　Materials (PDF: 945KB)	・About the reason why we carry out joint bus introduction ・Impact of introduction of articulated buses
2022	・No. 4 (issued in March 2023) 　Materials (PDF: 3,040KB)	・About model of introduction of articulated bus, getting on and off method ・About service route, transit discount, construction summary of Shimoiida route
2023	・No. 5 (issued in October 2023) 　Materials (PDF: 1,872KB)	・Schedule up to the start of operation ・About construction site and contents of construction
2023	・No. 6 (issued in February 2024) 　Materials (PDF: 1,025KB)	・Schedule up to the start of operation ・About the service schedule of the articulated bus introduction route and the Shimoiida route
2024	・No. 7 (issued in May 2024) 　Materials (PDF: 1,983KB)	・Overview of the approach, how to get on and off the joint bus, and changes in the bus stop (vehicle) position ・About the schedule after July 1

About Yokohama-shi bus network meeting

Aiming at "Policy Goal 1 Realization of local transportation that is easy for everyone to move" in the "Yokohama Urban Transportation Plan", various plans that contribute to the construction of an efficient bus network with the maintenance and enhancement of bus routes throughout the city This is a meeting to hear opinions from everyone involved regarding the development and implementation of

List of Meetings
Fiscal year	Contents of the Meeting
2020	・1st session (held in January 2021) 　Slide materials (PDF: 1,098KB) / Summary of results (PDF: 135KB)
2021	・1st meeting (held in October 2021)　　　　　　　　Slide materials (PDF: 3,555KB) / Summary of results (PDF: 128KB) ・2nd meeting (held in January 2022) 　Slide materials (PDF: 1,751KB) / Summary of results (PDF: 112KB)
2022	・2nd meeting (held in March 2023) 　Slide materials (PDF: 13,379KB) / Summary of results (PDF: 234KB)
2023	・1st meeting (held in September 2023) 　Slide materials (PDF: 3,660KB) / Summary of results (PDF: 278KB)

　※Slide materials and summary of results may include materials related to initiatives in Aoba Ward.

About press release materials

We start approach for maintenance, enhancement of bus route and improvement of traffic convenience by public-private partnership! (September 7, 2020)

We will start operating the connecting bus "Twin Liner" in Totsuka Ward! (June 17, 2024)

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