A group of architects in the city think about the plan of the revival of streetcars in Wakayama city. They aim at reinvigorating both lives and tourist business of the city by connecting stations of JR and Nankai, city hall, prefectural office, and sightseeing areas. Within 2012, they will launch NPO corporation and will set the place to argue the issue with the city staffs.
The group is called "The assembly of aiming at installation of LRT", which consists of tens of office workers and teachers such as Shigehiro Nakanishi(中西重裕), a qualified architect of the first class in Wakayama city.
LRT means the system of transportation that streetcars play a central part. It reduces traffic jam ,and then aims at the city for pedestrians. Notably, streetcars whose floors are lower than conventional ones will be introduced.
8km lines opened in Toyama in 2006 is the first LRT in Japan. Last September, Ken-ichi Ohashi(大橋建一), the governor of Wakayama city said "I'd like to research the issue and cost effectiveness."
Since 1909, Wakayama city had had 16km of tram lines, which had run through the central area of Wakayama city called "Keyaki street" and had terminated at Kainan. But, the fact that it was attributed to a cause of traffic jam and decreasing passengers made it abolished in 1971.
Mr.Nakanishi, who had used to use tram lines, felt declining economy of the city when he came back to native 20 years ago. He thought "Tram lines used to run on ideal routes connecting stations, administrative organs ,and sightseeing areas such as Wakaura. Revival of it will make the city reinvigorated and reduce vehicles." He held a confernce on LRT .and set the assembly with participants last September.
On April 14, 5th meeting was held in a conference room in the city. Participants suggested they make CG images and calculate economic effects.
Mr.Nakanishi submitted the plan of setting vehicle- free areas in central areas around "Burakuri-cho" and making the conventional shopping district "transit mall" for customers using LRT.
He said "LRT is usable for those are elderly or disabled people. It'll be a core issue for describing the future of Wakayama."
Citation: http://www.asahi.com/travel/rail/news/OSK201204140088.html
Railways in Wakayama prefecture confront crisis.
For example, Arita railway, Nokami Electric Railway, Nankai Wakayama-ko Line between Wakayama-ko and Suiken were abolished recently. The cause is decreasing population along the lines and undergoing motorization.
So, even if the tram line were to be constructed, management of the line will be forced to experience difficulty. The first mission is to find how to let inhabitants along the line take streetcars frequently.
