Up to 10,000 parking spaces will be added in Shanghai's downtown
area by 2010 to serve drivers who work in small or medium size
office buildings, the Oriental Morning Post reported
today.
Construction of these parking spots will make full use of the
current public green lands, according to a plan issued by the
city's traffic management bureau yesterday.
Parking lots in city's center will share parking information via
a computer system to ensure full use during rushing hours.
The bureau's target is that at least 70 percent of downtown
parking spots should be in use during peak periods.
About 8,000 parking spaces will be added in major traffic
transfer hubs in the suburbs to encourage residents to take public
transits to work, school or shopping.
Parking fees will differ depending on the time of day.
Short-term parking on specific roadsides is encouraged and will
cost less.
The bureau has promised to set up both permanent and temporary
parking facilities for the Shanghai World Expo 2010.
By 2010, the city will have an extra 300 kilometers of roads for
public bus use only. The move may raise bus speeds during peak
hours to 18 km per hour at most.
The city's public transport system should be able to deal with
16.9 million passengers a day by 2010.
Metro lines, which will be extended to 400 km, will play a very
important role in the future, by transporting five million
passengers a day, or 30 percent of all public transport users.
Meanwhile, the bureau will adjust 60 percent of terminal stops
for public buses within three years to make them more convenient
for neighboring residents.
An express bus line will also be built to connect the two
railway stations, it said.
(Shanghai Daily September 13, 2007)