Optimizing Transportation Network Needs Public Participation

Source: www.spcsc.sh.cn

The public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry is of high public nature, and closely related to citizens’ daily life. With a view to making the network of passenger transport by public bus, tram and trolleybus more suitable for the demands of citizens, the introduction of public participation into the network optimization and adjustment shall become the legal provisions. The standing committee of the Municipal People’s Congress held an interpretation meeting on the Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on the Administration of Passenger Transport by Public Bus, Tram and Trolleybus (Amendment Draft) on the morning of April 6 to hear the explanations of the Municipal Transport and Port Authority.

Adapting to Industry Development by Fulfilling the Development Strategy of Public Transport Priority

It is reported that this Municipality’s total amount of public transport in 2009 was 5.222 billion person-time, among which, public bus, tram and trolleybus contributed 2.706 billion person-time, amounting to 51.8% of the total amount. The public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry has become a basic profession in supporting the masses’ production and living.

As the first local rule on public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry throughout the whole country, the Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on the Administration of Passenger Transport by Public Bus, Tram and Trolleybus have provided important legal guarantee for the administration on public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry of this Municipality since January 1, 2001. However, with the rapid development of urban/rural construction and the rail transport in this Municipality, the original Regulations need to be amended and improved, so as to better perform the development strategy of public transport priority, and further adapt to new requirements of the development of public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry.

Public Participation Guarantees a Scientific and Democratic Adjustment of Lines

The rapid development of rail transport is an outstanding characteristic of public transport. With a view to realizing the effective connection between the network of passenger transport by public bus, tram and trolleybus and other mode of transportation such as the rail transport, raising the network density of those inconvenient places, the Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on the Administration of Passenger Transport by Public Bus, Tram and Trolleybus (Amendment Draft) clearly provide that relevant departments shall adjust the network of passenger transport in a timely manner, so as to meet the citizens’ ever growing demands for transportation.

In consideration of the public nature of the public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry, the Amendment (Draft) provides that the annual plan of opening new lines or adjusting old lines need solicit opinions from units and residents concerned by way of open solicitation of opinions or holding hearings. The opinions solicited shall be taken as one of the bases for the openness/adjustment of lines.

Increasing the Input to Public Transport to Embody the Public Nature of the Industry

In recent years, this Municipality has continuously increased the input to public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry, and provided subsidies to such projects as preferential treatment for transfer, free ride for elders, renewal of vehicles, and the opening of unfrequented lines. In the year 2009, the municipal and district/county people’s government respectively inputted 3.39 billion yuan and 0.43 billion yuan to provide financial guarantee for the smooth implementation of the development strategy of public transport priority

The Amendment (Draft) provides that the input of the municipal and district/county people’s governments in public transport (public bus, trams and trolley bus) industry shall be respectively incorporated into corresponding public finance budget, and makes clear the detailed scope of government investment, so as to ensure the formation of a long-term mechanism. Besides, the Amendment (Draft) has an Article added which provides that the municipal finance department shall, jointly with the Municipal Transport and Port Authority, formulate an auditing and evaluation system on operators’ costs and expenses, so as to raise the efficiency of using financial funds, and ensure that the subsidies be used for public services.