Talking transit in Tokyo: Using technology to move people and business forward

Talking transit in Tokyo: Using technology to move people and business forward

Mayor Frank Scarpitti toured the new Tokyo Waterfront while on a business mission in Japan. It’s a dynamic revitalization project centered on Odaiba, which is located across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo.

Odaiba is an artificial island featuring several large shopping complexes, hotels, museums, Fuji television station and studios, a ferris wheel and corporate office towers. The area is a thriving tourism, business and shopping destination. It will be one of the venues for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Mayor Scarpitti travelled to Odaiba on the Yurikamome, Tokyo's first fully automated LRT, a computer controlled transit system without drivers.

“I think it works phenomenal,” says Mayor Scarpitti. “It would be a wonderful asset for the transit system in the Greater Toronto area.”

As current Chair of the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (Viva Transit), Mayor Scarpitti believes the region could benefit from this type of technology.

“We could use it on the 407 right-of-way, rather than a bus system, having an automated light rail system that could take workers and visitors, right across the northern part of the GTA.”

Mayor Scarpitti says an automated LRT network could potentially connect York Region east/west with Toronto Pearson International Airport and out to Durham Region.

Mayor Scarpitti is travelling in Japan with a 12-person delegation representing the City of Markham. He says it’s been a great visit so far and he is impressed by the warm reception he has received.

Mayor Scarpitti says, “Canada could learn a lot from Japan and Japan can learn a lot from Canada; as we come together to build relations and stronger economic ties.”