[WILLER Co., Ltd.] Redevelopment of local transportation in Ubuyama Village, Kumamoto Prefecture using a “Co-Creation/MaaS Demonstration Project” ~Creating new public transportation in rural areas in response to discontinued bus routes~
WILLER Co., Ltd. Press release: October 1, 2024 Redevelopment of local transportation in Ubuyama Village, Kumamoto Prefecture using the “Co-Creation/MaaS Demonstration Project” ~Creating new public transportation in rural areas in response to discontinued bus routes~ Ubuyama Village (village mayor: Masafumi Ichihara), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (President and CEO: Akihiro Fukudome, hereinafter referred to as “Sumitomo Mitsui Banking”), and Community Mobility Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shigetaka Murase, hereinafter referred to as “Community Mobility”), In Ubuyama Village, Kumamoto Prefecture, we will utilize the “FY2020 Co-Creation/MaaS Demonstration Project” (*1) to begin efforts to reorganize local transportation. Ubuyama Village is a village with a population of about 1,400 people, and the local bus that was the only public transportation that served the villagers’ needs to move outside the village will be discontinued from October 2024, and the community bus that operates within the village will be discontinued. However, the number of users is decreasing, and there is a need for
redevelopment and reform of public transportation. Against this backdrop, in collaboration with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Community Mobility, we will conduct a demonstration experiment using on-demand transportation services, with the aim of building regional transportation that allows villagers to continue living with peace of mind. This demonstration will utilize the “Reiwa 6th Co-Creation/MaaS Demonstration Project” (*1) to operate on-demand transportation (*2) mainly for use by villagers, providing efficient and easy-to-use transportation. We aim to realize this. In addition, the service area is not limited to Ubuyama Village, but also parts of Aso City and Takeda City, where there are supermarkets and hospitals used by many villagers, as drop-off points, making it possible for villagers to travel outside the village. In addition, from next year onward, we plan to evolve the transportation system to meet not only the transportation needs of villagers but also the demands of tourists and other visitors. Through this project, we will collaborate with related parties throughout Ubuyama Village to provide transportation services that are close to all villagers, including the elderly, students, and those raising children, and to create a comfortable and easy-to-live-in living environment for everyone, and to improve the village’s future. We aim for further development. The main points of this project are the following two points. 1. By consolidating the transportation needs of existing route buses (movement outside the village), community buses (movement within the village), and clinic buses (movement to the village clinic) and operating on-demand transportation, We aim to achieve both efficiency and convenience. (On-demand transportation is available for free for villagers for the time being) 2. There are 63 pick-up and drop-off locations, which can be used not only within the village but also outside the village. “Securing and maintaining local public transportation” has become a serious social issue in depopulated areas where the population is decreasing. Through this demonstration project, the three parties are working in partnership with the public and public to solve these social issues. I’m here. *1 A regional public transportation maintenance and improvement project promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. An initiative in which multiple entities work together to maintain and revitalize local public transportation, viewing transportation as an integral part of local life. In addition to subsidizing the operating expenses of
transportation demonstration projects that will become the nascent stage, the aim is to sort out necessary issues and increase the sustainability of local public transportation by providing on-site follow-up. ( https://www.mlit.go.jp/sogoseisaku/transport/kyousou/
https://travel.willer.co.jp/maas/mobi ) ≪Details≫ ・Service area: Ubuyama village area
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/27749/293/27749-293-f31c8b96d61acb6fb7754ace90c49046-2750×1480.png ・Service period: October 1, 2024 (Tuesday) ~ ・Service hours: 8:00-18:30 ・Vehicle: Vehicle that can accommodate 5 passengers ・How to use: App or phone (mobi customer support: 050-2018-0107, Business hours: 9:00-19:00) *It may be difficult to connect by phone between 9:00 and 10:00. Please download the app below. Click here for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/willers-maas/id1471754821 For Android users, click here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.willer.maasapp
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/27749/293/27749-293-22fc339fe95983f033ae10e314843432-380×230.png *This service is operated by Ubuyama Village Office, and the app service is provided by Community Mobility.
