Opinion – Claudio Bernardes: Toyama, in Japan, is a model for the development of a compact city

Toyama, like many cities around the world, faced problems with urban sprawl and subsequent demographic shifts. The city, which in 1999 had 420,000 inhabitants, had its population reduced to 412 thousand inhabitants today.

The population density of the lowest among Japan’s provincial capitals and excessive reliance on automobiles have led to the deterioration of public transport services, and the inner city areas have lost their vitality because of suburban development. Typical effects also in many other cities around the world.

In response to these challenges, Toyama City has taken a more integrated approach to urban planning and transportation. Today, the city is widely recognized as a model for the development of compact cities.

By establishing the goal of becoming a compact city, it invested in two priority actions: attracting people and companies to locate along transport axes, driven by a bold new project for light rail vehicles (LRT), and the revitalization of the central area of ​​the city, which was structured in three stages.

The first stage, started in 2007, foresaw the structuring of the central area based on a dense urban core and a series of secondary hubs interconnected by public transport, thus promoting the physical transformation of the region. This transformation included the implementation of the VLT project, the creation of hubs with the necessary infrastructure to make them vibrant and attractive, and the production and encouragement of housing, with building renovation and remodeling, urban redevelopment projects and infrastructure to improve the quality of life.

The second stage of the revitalization plan, which began in 2012, aimed to improve the quality of urban space. The city increased public investment in urban areas and renovation projects to attract private investment. In addition to developing physical assets downtown, Toyama has also partnered with the private sector, non-profit organizations, universities and local communities to develop and accumulate social capital.

Specifically, the second stage of the plan was structured around three pillars: creating movement and vibration in the city center, providing high-quality mobility, with multiple options; cultivate a new “Toyama” culture in the city center, with urban redevelopment projects, retrofitting historic buildings and boosting commercial development; to offer diversified and high quality urban living styles in the city center, with innovative projects of public facilities for community development, and urban landscape updating.

The third stage, which started in April 2017 and is underway, is expected to last until March 2022. In this phase, the city aims to further improve the quality of life in the city center, bringing public facilities back to the central area, improving health and wellness services and strengthening partnerships with the private sector, non-profit organizations, academia and local communities. In addition, the city continues to improve mobility for citizens through tram lines, the backbone of Compact City development, whose project was completed in March 2020.

The wide range of benefits of a compact city was translated into a significant reduction in traffic congestion and CO2 emissions, in addition to positive impacts on the behavior of citizens, especially the elderly, who began to move more around the city. Urban travel related to this age group grew by almost 250%.

The results of the implemented program show that the compact city model associated with the VLT triggered a change in transport modes, reducing the use of cars and buses, and encouraging citizens to adopt a more active lifestyle.

Cases like Toyama’s should serve as an example for cities that are going through similar problems, and make this experience inspire them to produce specific plans to make their cities compact, efficient and environmentally balanced.