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Beijing Upgrades Transport
Beijing's transport system is being rapidly upgraded as the city prepares to host the 21st World Universiade in August this year and bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Beijing's construction department officials have promised a "brand-new and high-quality transport artery" in the near future.
Roads near large stadiums will have to be able to cope with the movement of more than 100,000 people after major sporting events.
Beijing launched a series of basic facilities projects last year costing 28 billion yuan (US$3.4 billion), and more than half of the money has been invested in traffic systems, including road, subway and light rail facilities.
As part of the series of projects, the construction of the Fourth Ring Road was completed at the end of last year.
The road will be able to cope with any increase in traffic caused by major events, said engineer Zhang Ren, who is in charge of the road's construction.
"The Fourth Ring Road is the best one in China; it can be listed among the world's first-class roads," Zhang said.
An average of 2.5 kilometres away from the city's Third Ring Road, the new road boasts a total length of 65.3 kilometres, including 147 overpasses. It is designed for speeds of 80 to 100 kilometres per hour, much higher than those of the city's other two ring roads - 55 to 65 kilometres per hour.
Officials said the road will alleviate traffic congestion and help stimulate economic development in suburban areas.
The road is also expected to improve traffic conditions, together with the northern section of the Fifth Ring Road, around sites earmarked for the 2008 Olympics.
Beijing used to experience traffic problems. The municipal government has devoted great efforts to road construction over the past few years. In 1994, the 33-kilometre Second Ring Road and the 48-kilometre Third Ring Road were completed.
Rebuilding and widening construction of nine major roads in downtown Beijing was started last year.
However, the current rate of road building still cannot meet the increasing number of vehicles in the city, which causes heavier air pollution in the densely populated city.
Big cities need to readjust their overall urban development policy by promoting rail transport, a cleaner and economic form of mass transport, argued Liu Shijin, a researcher with the State Council Research and Development Centre.
"Rail is a necessary component of a contemporary urban transport system. It is the most effective way of curing our traffic woes in urban areas," Liu said.
Beijing plans to build 82 kilometres of new subway to add to the existing 53 kilometres by the end of 2007; till that time, passengers carried by subway will account for 40 per cent of the total amount of public transport, officials from the Beijing Municipal General Subway Co said.
A light rail system across the city is currently being built and expected to be completed in 2002.
There are more than 10,000 buses in Beijing and half of them are natural gas-fueled pollution-free buses. In addition, 67,000 taxis will be equipped with a wireless telecommunication system and global positioning system to guarantee an efficient ride for passengers, according to Yu Chunquan, deputy director of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau.
"With the help of a traffic monitoring system in downtown Beijing, common traffic accidents can be solved within five minutes or less," Yu said.
Source: China Daily
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