First Local Transport Service Plan Certified Under Amended Law
Overview
On October 16, 2026, the amended Regional Transportation Act took effect. Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture received certification for the first nationwide plan under the newly established Automobile Local Passenger Transport Service Reconstruction Program. The plan will introduce paid public ride-sharing by using school buses managed by the city’s Board of Education during their idle hours to transport local residents. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will support efforts to close “transportation gaps” by using local transport resources, new frameworks, budgets, and other measures.
Key points
- The amended Regional Transportation Act took effect on October 16, 2026.
- Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture received certification for the first nationwide plan under the program.
- The plan will introduce paid public ride-sharing by using school buses during their idle hours.
- About 3,000 “transportation gaps” exist nationwide.
Overview
Local public transport provides essential daily mobility for shopping, medical care, education, and other needs. However, bus routes and other services have been suspended or discontinued one after another amid a shortage of drivers and other workers, leaving about 3,000 “transportation gaps” nationwide.
The amended Regional Transportation Act established a program to use local transport resources fully to close “transportation gaps,” promoted the activities of businesses and organizations that work together to address local transport challenges as “cooperation promotion organizations,” and set out measures such as the use of mobility data. The Act took effect today.
Impact
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism says it will mobilize new frameworks, budgets, and other measures to continue strongly supporting efforts to close “transportation gaps” and expand initiatives using local transport resources nationwide.
Details
As the first nationwide case under the program, Sagamihara City’s plan was certified. It will use idle time for school buses managed by the city’s Board of Education to introduce paid public ride-sharing that transports local residents.
Those seeking to carry out the program must prepare an implementation plan and obtain certification from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. They can then receive an exemption that deems them to have obtained business permits and other authorizations under the Road Transportation Act.