Yamagata City plans to build a new station between Yamagata and Zaou for more convenient use of train
https://www.yamagata-np.jp/news/202102/28/kj_2021022800608.php
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On Feb 27, Yamagata City turned out to think about a new station between Yamagata and Zaou on JR Ouu Line. The distance between them is about 5 km. By building a new station near intermediate position between them, The city wants to raise train usage. It will be added to the annual plan of public transportation in the city.
The city draws blueprint 15 years later. As a part of it, what to do from 2021 to 2025 will be added to the plan. For launching environment to let everybody move comfortably, the city will show planned public transportation network and the abstract of things to ensure and develop public transportation.
According to the city's survey, average ownership of private cars per family is 1.53 cars, the biggest number in prefectural capitals in Tohoku. On the other hand, train usage of the citizens out of all the transportation modes is 1.3%. It shows how highly people are dependent on vehicles and how less frequently people use public transports. The plan is aimed at shifting to public transportation.
The new station is aimed at strengthening railways as a main function by making the new station the new transportation hub in southern part of Yamagata City. If we see the northern part, the distance between Yamagata and Kita-Yamagata or between Kita-Yamagata and Uzen-Chitose is 2 or 3 km. But, the distance between Yamagata and Zaou is about 5km.
By adding the new station and circular bus routes in northern and southern parts, the city wants to make it easier to use train.
The department of plan and negotiation in the city takes up reduction of traffic jam, reduction of environmental impact, and improvement of bus routes under deficit as advantages of shifting to public transports. A staff at the department says "Concrete plan of the station and negotiation with JR East have not yet started. We'd like to make sure of necessity, effects, and financial feasibility"
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New stations around medium sized cities in Japan are demanded over the country. It would be one of them.
