DPJ sticks to toll-free expressway plan though controversial

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

DPJ sticks to toll-free expressway plan though controversial

On February 2, the government announced that it will implement a plan to make expressways toll-free in some rural areas and assess the impact on tourism, traffic flow, and air pollution.

Making expressways toll-free is one of the Democratic Party of Japan’s key election promises.

The budget allocated to do so is 100 billion yen this fiscal year, which is by no means a small amount. This is a huge amount compared to the 18.3 billion yen in the budget for the additional payment of benefits to single-parent households (only mothers with dependent children) receiving welfare assistance, which was restored only as a result of the people’s movement.

The DPJ explained that the toll-free expressway plan will be funded by stopping the wasteful use of tax money. However, what the DPJ-led government cut was budgets for social welfare programs and education and government subsidies to local public transportation services.

Is it really necessary for the Hatoyama administration to continue implementing this plan while advocating the budget to protect life?

The DPJ assertion that “rather than driving a car on local streets and needing to stop at every red light, driving on the expressway contributes to reduced-greenhouse gas emissions (the then DPJ Secretary General Okada Katsuya)” has become groundless.

Many specialized institutions, including the transport ministry’s own institution, estimated that if expressways are made toll-free, greenhouse gas emissions will increase.

The government should reconsider implementing such a controversial plan.

- Akahata, February 4, 2010