| Oct.23 SAT. |
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Hiroshima City recently asked local residents what they thought of its future plans for urban transportation in the city, specifically the plans to construct a link between JR Hiroshima Station and Nishi-Hiroshima Station via Heiwa-odori, the extension of the Astramline from Koiki-Koen to Nishi-Hiroshima Station, and from Hondori to the old campus of Hiroshima University.
Some 27,000 questionnaires were distributed at the two JR stations and 4,262 responses were received. Over 37% of these responses approved the general plan, while 12% approved in principle but wanted a more detailed plan. A mere 10% wanted things left as they were. Other opinions varied between these extremes. The largest segment (over 21%) had a passive or negative view towards new construction, but wanted the existing tram and bus routes augmented.
The city pledged to study the results of the survey and produce a ‘master plan’ by the beginning of November at the latest. However, at a meeting of the city council, several councillors raised questions about the segment which will run along Heiwa-odori. The response was given that the economic and technical aspects were being examined of an underground line along Heiwa-odori and Chuo-dori. It had already been noted at meetings of a special committee put together by the city council that an Astramline-style elevated system running along the route would have a serious impact both on the local environment and also on the existing road network. The special status of the Peace Memorial Park and the commercial significance of Chuo-dori also had to be considered, as well as purely economic considerations.
That economic considerations also weigh heavily is clear from the fact that it would cost \300 billion to extend the Astramline to Nishi-Hiroshima Station and to continue this extension along Heiwa-odori. An underground system would add substantially to the bill.
Or rising water. The recent flooding in the Hakata district of Fukuoka has focussed attention to the underground shopping mall being built in Kamiya-cho and due to open in 2001. At the end of June, a large depression caused very heavy rainfall over Western Japan and the area around JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka was inundated by sudden and extensive flooding. People were drowned in basements by water which rose to the ceiling. With 80 shops and parking for 206 cars, the Kamiya-cho shopping complex will be a huge underground area and the relevant local and national authorities are urgently considering safety measures.
レストハウス春風 The restaurant’s name means ‘spring breeze’ and can be read as harukaze or shunpu. The establishment is in a corner of Iwakuni City’s sports park and overlooks the Nishiki River and the western part of Iwakuni. It is managed by the Iwakuni Kokusai Kanko Hotel. The menu features set meals (teishoku) featuring curry, spaghetti, noodles etc. A popular choice with customers is the Furai Teishoku (\1,500), which offers fried shrimp, cuttlefish, white fish, chicken, 8 items in all, with rice and miso-shiru. Tel. (0827) 32-7755.
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questionnaire アンケート、質問書訳 |
「地上、それとも地下？」
広島市はこのほど、都市交通に関する将来のプランについて市民に尋ねた。質問の中心は、平和大通り経由でＪＲ広島駅―西広島駅を結ぶ線、アストラムライン広域公園前―ＪＲ西広島駅の延伸、そしてアストラムライン本通―広島大本部跡地間の延伸に関するものだ。
約２万７０００枚のアンケートが二つのＪＲ駅で配布され、４２６２の回答があった。回答の37％以上がこの案全体を支持。一方、12％が原則的には支持するが、さらに詳細なプランが必要と答えた。現状維持を望んだのはわずか10％だった。他の意見も両極端に別れた。その大部分（21％以上）が、新規路線に関して消極的または否定的だったが、既存の電車とバスの路線を増やしてほしいというものだった。
市はアンケート調査の結果を踏まえ、遅くとも十一月の初めまでに「（新公共交通体系）マスタープラン」を提出するとした。しかし、市議会では数人の市議が平和大通りの路線について問題を提起した。市の答弁は「平和大通りと中央通りについては、地下方式にした場合の採算面や構造技術面などの検討を深めている」というものだった。市議会の特別委員会では、アストラムライン型の高架構造にすれば、景観や道路交通に深刻な影響を与えるだろうと言われていた。また経済効率だけでなく、平和記念公園の位置付けと中央通りの商業価値も考慮すべき、との声もあった。
経済効率も重要視されていることは、アストラムラインを西広島駅まで延ばし、さらに平和大通りまで延伸するのに３０００億円かかる事実からも明らか。地下方式はかなり費用がかさみそうだ。
「地下街に雨が降る？」
（紙屋町の地下街では雨が降るのか、）それとも洪水になるのだろうか…？福岡県の博多区でこのほど起こった洪水は、紙屋町に２００１年オープン予定の、建設中の地下商店街への関心を集めた。６月末、大きな低気圧が西日本に豪雨をもたらし、福岡県のＪＲ博多駅周辺は、突然広範囲にわたって洪水となり水浸しになった。地下街では天井まで水が達し、住民がその中で溺れ死んだ。八十店舗と二百六台収容の駐車場を持つ紙屋町の地下街は、巨大な地下空間になるため、地域や国では緊急の安全策が検討されている。
