Highlights
– Improvements to Beijing subway and bus lines will likely reduce congestion ahead of the 2008 Olympics
– Heightened security will be present at all major mass transit points in the city
– Privately owned vehicles may continue to create traffic jams throughout Beijing during the Olympics
China has spent billions of dollars on improving Beijing’s infrastructure in the lead up to the 2008 Olympic Games. In addition to stadiums built specifically for the Games, the city has improved and expanded its subway and bus lines to accommodate the influx of athletes, spectators and journalists who will arrive in August 2008.
Although not all of the improvements will be completed in time for the Olympics, several upgrades will likely ease the massive congestion that already plagues Beijing. While these expansions appear to alleviate problems now, visitors to the Beijing Olympics should expect delays and large crowds as millions of Chinese people, who are not residents of Beijing, are likely to arrive in August in addition to thousands of foreigners.
Subway Improvements
Although ten new subway lines are currently under construction in Beijing, only two will be completed ahead of the Games. The completed lines include an airport rail line and Line 10, which will go through all main Olympic venues. The other eight lines are not scheduled for completion until 2012.
Another measure meant to alleviate traffic during the Games is the implementation of the automatic fare collection (AFC) system at 26 stations on Line 10. AFC will replace the paper tickets currently used on the Beijing subway, reducing the crowds at ticket gates. The technology is adapted from AFC systems in South Korea and was also installed in other Chinese cities such as Guangzhou and Muhan.
Battling Congestion
An estimated 1,000 new cars appear on Beijing’s roads each day, as the booming economy produces an increasing number of middle class residents. However, the increase in cars has led to massive congestion and air pollution. The city has tried to encourage residents to take public transportation by reducing bus fares to less than US$0.10 and subway fares to US$0.27.
An official from the Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications said that the operating hours of all subways and buses will be extended during the Olympics and 34 Olympic bus routes will be added to accommodate the increase in traffic. A Bus Rapid Transit system has also been implemented, which contains larger buses and uses exclusive bus lanes, reducing travel time.
Another improvement to Beijing’s transportation system was the addition of a third terminal to Beijing’s international airport. The largest building in the world, Terminal 3 cost US$3.8 billion to construct and can handle more than 50 million passengers per day. Although the terminal was completed in less than four years, it has not had the complications that disrupted new airport terminals in London and Bangkok. The building was reportedly able to open ahead of schedule because the site became a 24-hour-a-day operation, with tens of thousands of workers living on the airport grounds.
Mass Transit Security
Security will be heightened throughout Beijing during the Olympics, especially at areas with large crowds such as subway and bus stations. Security checkpoints will be set up at all major stations, equipped with both handheld metal detectors and police dog units. Explosives and flammable substances are already prohibited on subway lines but passengers will be asked to drink from any liquid containers they are carrying to further ensure they are not carrying dangerous material onto the subway.
As we previously reported, security checkpoints will also be set up at other high volume areas such as hotels, entertainment areas and rented homes. Large public gatherings are banned and officials have already cancelled several major events that were scheduled to take place before the Olympics due to security concerns (Previous Report).
Potential Problems
The new improvements to the subway and bus lines will likely reduce congestion in Beijing’s public transportation; however, several problems may still arise during the Olympics. The city recently introduced a new satellite navigation system that shows the best routes drivers should take, including real time information on traffic jams. Nevertheless, the technology costs over US$400, much more than the average citizen can afford and many motorists stated they would rather rely on their own experience.
Additionally, despite mandatory basic English classes, many Beijing taxi drivers cannot speak English fluent enough to communicate with a foreigner who does not speak Chinese. However, the expected 1.5 million Olympic volunteers, largely university students, will be able to help foreigners communicate with non-English speakers.
Overall, we assess that while visitors to Beijing in August 2008 may experience congestion both on the subways and on the road, the recent improvements will significantly alleviate past problems.
