In February 2024, two ALMEC experts were dispatched to Palau for a two-week on-site mission for the "Information Collection and Study for the Public Transport Systems and Tourism Model Routes to Improve Tourist Convenience in the Republic of Palau" (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MLIT). As part of this project, we collected information on the actual situation of maritime transport to the remote islands of Palau.
In Palau, most of the residents live on the main islands, and ship services to the five outlying states are easily affected by sea conditions, so regular services are often cancelled. In addition, ships are almost the only lifeline for the residents of the remote islands and are also seen transporting cargo and poultry.
Currently, ships are operated and managed by each state, and the only way to confirm timetables is to call the state government, which is inconvenient for tourists. In addition, there are no public buses in Palau yet at this time, and because of the large amount of luggage, most boat users have their families or colleagues provide transport to and from the boarding area.
Palau is an island country confronting climate change, and we hope to contribute to the fight against global warming by introducing environmentally friendly transportation.(Apr. 2024)

Area of business concerned: "03 Urban Transportation Planning"

On March 5th, the trainees of the Study Tour of JICA's "The Project For Capacity Building For Bus Operation Policy And Management ㏌ Nairobi Metropolitan Area", visited Kumamoto City, to learn the public transport policies and services to tackle transport problems.
Kumamoto City has a higher car ownership than the Japanese average. Along with progress of the ageing and depopulation society, how to maintain the public transport service is one of the critical issue. As a remarkable countermeasure, a joint operation of several bus operators in the city has been implemented, to improve operation efficiency and passenger’s usability.
In the morning, the Kumamoto City Urban Development Bureau welcomed us and gave lectures on public transport policies and an outline of the joint operation and associated measures.
In the afternoon, the Kyushu Sanko Landmark Co.,Ltd welcomed us and introduced SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto, a commercial complex developed in the city center. This facility is intended to be a trigger of the revitalization of the central district with a well-designed “Kumamoto Sakura-machi Bus Terminal”, various commercial facilities and urban amenities. It can provide good lessons learned for the terminal development to be proposed in Nairobi and Kenya.(Mar. 2024)

Area of business concerned: "06 Planning and Implementation of Transportation Measures"

ALMEC is conducting JICA's "The Project For Capacity Building For Bus Operation Policy And Management ㏌ Nairobi Metropolitan Area", to improve the public bus service in Nairobi, Kenya. From 26th February to 8th March, a study tour conducted to learn road-based public transportation systems in Japan.
On February 29th, the trainees visited Enoden-Bus Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Enoshima Electric Railway Co., Ltd., which gained international fame for its appearance in the opening movie of the TV Anime series "Slam Dunk." Enoden-Bus, operating a fleet of 237 buses primarily in Fujisawa, Kamakura, and Yokohama. We visited the Shonan Area office and learned about their business overview, operation management, and vehicle maintenance practices. Observing these operations provided invaluable insights for the trainees.
One of the uniqueness of public transportation in Kenya is a mix of large buses and Matatus (minibuses or SUVs), which often contribute to traffic congestion. Enoden-Bus also owns both large buses and minibuses and smaller buses are assigned to operate narrow streets. This approach presents a potential strategy for alleviating congestion in Kenya.(Mar. 2024)

Area of business concerned: "06 Planning and Implementation of Transportation Measures"

ALMEC is conducting JICA's "The Project For Capacity Building For Bus Operation Policy And Management ㏌ Nairobi Metropolitan Area", to improve the public bus service in Nairobi, Kenya. From 26th February to 8th March, a study tour conducted to learn road-based public transportation systems in Japan.
On February 29th, the trainees visited Enoden-Bus Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Enoshima Electric Railway Co., Ltd., which gained international fame for its appearance in the opening movie of the TV Anime series "Slam Dunk." Enoden-Bus, operating a fleet of 237 buses primarily in Fujisawa, Kamakura, and Yokohama. We visited the Shonan Area office and learned about their business overview, operation management, and vehicle maintenance practices. Observing these operations provided invaluable insights for the trainees.
One of the uniqueness of public transportation in Kenya is a mix of large buses and Matatus (minibuses or SUVs), which often contribute to traffic congestion. Enoden-Bus also owns both large buses and minibuses and smaller buses are assigned to operate narrow streets. This approach presents a potential strategy for alleviating congestion in Kenya.(Mar. 2024)

Area of business concerned: "06 Planning and Implementation of Transportation Measures"

On March 1, 2024, the final presentation of the "FY 2023 Smart JAMP Study on Smart City Realization in the Transportation" (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) was held in Bangkok, Thailand.
This project is conducted as a part of the "Smart City supported by Japan ASEAN Mutual Partnership (SmartJAMP)", an initiative of the Japanese government to support smart cities through Japan-ASEAN mutual cooperation with the aim of forming smart city projects that utilize Japan's advanced technologies and solutions in the field of transportation.
Joint Venture of ALMEC and Neural Group Inc. conducted the Study with the cooperation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Traffic Police Department of Royal Thai Police (RTP). We used images from the existing CCTV cameras installed on roads by BMA to verify the technology that automatically detects vehicle parked in no-parking zones, using image analysis AI originally developed by Neural.
In the final presentation, the results of the verification of detection and identification of violating vehicles were presented. BMA and the RTP discussed the next steps for possible implementation, particularly for enforcement of illegal parking vehicles. (Mar. 2024)

Area of business concerned: "06 Planning and Implementation of Transportation Measures"

During my business trip to Jakarta in January 2024, I took the Indonesian high-speed rail commenced in October 2023.
Halim Station, 10 km away from the city center of Jakarta, can be accessed by LRT and buses. The trains ran at as fast as 350km/h outside Jakarta, and it took only 30 minutes to reach Padalarang Station, about 120km away from Jakarta. I transferred to a local train exclusive for high-speed rail users that took us to Bandung Station in 20 minutes.
Even though both terminal stations are far from the city center of Jakarta and Bandung, feeder services are provided to make the journey more convenient and comfortable. It was impressive to see Indonesian passengers simply enjoying the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia by taking selfies in front of the signboard reading "Current Speed: 350km/h".
The high-speed railway is planned to extend to Surabaya. I am excited to see how this new transport system will change people's lifestyles and regional connectivity in Indonesia. (Jan. 2024)

Tomohiro Ito

Uzbekistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia, is bordered by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Since there is no appropriate system to manage and operate traffic accident information, it has difficulty to establish measures based on the analysis of the actual situation of traffic accident. To address this issue, the "JICA Uzbekistan National Traffic Safety Promotion Advisor Project" (a joint venture between ALMEC and CTI Engineering International Co., Ltd.) started in July 2023.
If you walk in Tashkent, a Capital City of Uzbekistan, you will be surprised to find that vehicles do not yield to pedestrians. When crossing pedestrian crosswalks, you need to wait for a kind driver to stop. Even at signalized crosswalks, pedestrian safety is not guaranteed and you will be with a feel of danger.
In such a society, driving or riding a passenger car becomes a 'wise' choice and it will lead an automobile-centric society.
Aiming to create a pedestrian-safety city, we will provide technical support in developing traffic safety measures. (Dec. 2023)

Takayoshi Futose

Area of business concerned: "06 Planning and Implementation of Transportation Measures"

In collaboration with Nihon Koei Co., Ltd., ALMEC is actively involved in JICA's "Kigali Urban Transportation Improvement Project (UMIK)." From October 10th to 20th, we conducted a study tour primarily in Kyushu Region. We explored urban transportation case studies in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, and Nagasaki, aiming to gain a profound understanding and knowledge regarding transportation policies.
ALMEC, in charge of "Public Transportation Planning & Management" in UMIK, arranged visit to the following two institutions to learn about the current state of urban transportation and their operations:

Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd. (Nishitetsu)
It is the one of the largest bus companies in Japan, operating over 3,000 buses daily. We visited the Nishitetsu Bus Training Center and the Island City Office. We learned about cutting-edge initiatives such as the introduction of bus exclusive lanes, driver training, information services at bus stops, and the launch of new mobility services. Since some of their initiatives are currently being implemented in Kigali City, their firsthand experiences and challenges were quite useful for participants.

Kitakyushu Express Railway
It is a corporation 100% funded by Kitakyushu City, operating the urban monorail (Kokura Line: Kokura Station - Kikugaoka Station). Given that Kigali City also has a plan to develop a monorail system, participants from government sector showed a high interest on this visit.
We visited various departments and learned about the operation methods, central control system, and maintenance of tracks and vehicles. Participants requested detail explanation about the "grade separation method" used widely in monorail development, which was a new concept for Kigali City. (Oct. 2023)

Area of business concerned: "04 Integrated Planning for Urban and Transportation Development"

The 15th International Conference of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 4 to 7, 2023, where several our staffs participated.
EASTS is an international academic society established in 1994 with the participation of countries in the East Asia region. The conference is held every two years since 1995. Many professionals from academia, private sector, and government in the Asian region participate the conference to exchange technology, knowledge and information. This year, 750 people attended the conference and 574 research papers were presented in oral and poster sessions.
EASTS is closely related with ALMEC business field. I have attended every conference since 2015 and enjoyed reconnecting with people I have worked before. ALMEC will promote active involvement in EASTS as a good opportunity to deepen existing connections and expand new ones.
The following papers were presented from ALMEC members at the conference of this year. (Sep. 2023)

Takayoshi Futose

Area of business concerned: "10 Research and Development"

The 1st Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) of the Environmentally Friendly Transportation System Development Project in Palau (JICA) was held in June 2023. At the JCC, major stakeholders from Palau and Japan gathered to discuss the following matters:
(1) the confirmation of need to address transport issues on the island,
(2) the trial operation of a route bus service with the aim of ensuring sustainable mobility, and
(3) the formulation of public transport master plan.
During the meeting, Minister Tmetuchl pointed out the traffic problems faced by Palauans who do not own cars, and stressed the importance of the government's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. He encouraged the use of buses as a form of public transport, and emphasized that Japan's technical cooperation is extremely important for the success of the project.
This project was started from May 2023, and plans to implement activities (1) to (3) above for three years.
Three local newspapers introduced the contents of this JCC as articles, indicating the high level of local interest. (Jul. 2023)

Area of business concerned: "08 Environmental Management"

Under the Project for Improving Traffic Congestion in Bangkok through the Establishment of Model Area Traffic Control (ATC) System in the Kingdom of Thailand (BATCP) being implemented as Technical Cooperation Project of JICA, an opening ceremony for the Area Traffic Control (ATC) system in the model area was held on June 26, 2023. The ceremony was chaired by Bangkok Governor, Dr. Chadchart Sittipunt and attended by more than 120 participants from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Royal Thai Police (RTP), other transportation-related agencies, research institutes, and media. This event was covered by several media.
The ATC has attracted the attention of the Governor and other local officials as an initiative aimed at solving Bangkok's pressing problem of traffic congestion. As the pilot project, ATC has been installed in the area bounded by Rama VI Road, Ratchawithi Road, Pahonohothin Road, and Pradipat Road, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the system are being verified.
BMA Governor, Dr. Chartchart emphasized the significance of this project to transform Bangkok's traffic management and expreseed his gratitude to the Japan’s cooperation. He further emphasized his commitment to creating a more efficient and livable city for the benefit of all residents.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen Jirasant KAEWSAENG-EK expressed the view that the ATC system will not only reduce the burden of traffic signal management, but also allow the traffic police more time to perform their important duties such as traffic enforcement.
Mr. Takuro Tasaka, Minister of the Embassy of Japan, emphasized the strong bilateral cooperation between Japan and Thailand, and expressed confidence in the positive impact of Japanese technology in alleviating traffic congestion and fostering sustainable urban development in Thailand.
Mr. Kazuya Suzuki, Chief Representative of JICA Thailand Office, highlighted the fruitful cooperation between JICA and its Thai partners in realizing this project and stressed the importance of the ATC system in improving traffic conditions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately improving the quality of life of Bangkok's citizens.
The ATC system is expected to help alleviate traffic congestion and shorten travel times by efficiently handling traffic, thus creating a more sustainable and livable city. Based on the results of the pilot project, the BMA and the Royal Thai Police will work together to further expand the ATC system. (Jul. 2023)

Live streaming from the Seminar (Facebook)

Area of business concerned: "06 Planning and Implementation of Transportation Measures"

In the capital city of Kigali, Rwanda, a reorganization of bus transportation has been underway since 2013. To avoid competition among the bus operators, the city area has been divided into four zones, with six operators responsible for bus operations. However, the declining number of passengers due to ageing vehicles and the emergence of motorcycle taxis has called for reforms in the bus industry.
The Kigali Urban Transport Improvement Project (JICA's Technical Cooperation Project conducted by JV between Nippon Koei Co., Ltd and ALMEC Corp..) aims to promote public transportation utilization and to improve urban transport by developing policies, measures, and plans for traffic flow management in public transport and the existing transport network. As experts of public transport planning and operations, we are providing support for the development of an action plan for public transport improvement. In addition, we are implementing the following pilot projects:

Open Data Management
We are working on reflecting the bus routes in Kigali city on Google Maps and other map applications. By organizing bus route information according to the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format defined by Google and submitting it for review, the information will be made publicly available and displayed in the transit directions on Google Maps. We have already developed the GTFS for the bus routes of Royal Express, and we plan to do it for all routes in the near future.

Diagram-based Operations
In Kigali, buses do not operate on a predetermined schedule, and drivers do not depart until the passenger load reaches a certain level. Drivers take a rest at their own discretion. As a result, overall operational management is challenging, leading to irregular intervals and variations in service. Moreover, lack of the concept of operational delays makes it difficult to improve the operational efficiency, quality of services, and profitability of the bus system. The Kigali City Government aims to introduce fixed-schedule operations to improve bus routes, which is difficult for implementation.
Therefore, we are engaged in activities towards the introduction of diagram-based operations. In this approach, drivers are instructed on departure times, turnaround points, and the number of operations in advance. Even if there is a delay, drivers are to take legal rest periods and to maintain the required pattern and frequency of bus operations. This allows to track duty hours and closing hour of the drivers and thus to improve overall operational efficiency and profitability.
Considering the difference of working environment between two countries, our method used in Japan should not be applied directly in Rwanda. Therefore, we are working closely with local operators and the government to find the bus operational management suitable in Rwanda. (Jul. 2023)

Area of business concerned: "04 Integrated Planning for Urban and Transportation Development"