<Efforts to improve convenience on Expressway SA/PA>

We will begin a series of demonstration experiments this fall to ensure that drivers of large vehicles have more reliable opportunities to take a break.

~ Some of the large vehicle parking spaces have been set up as “short-term parking spaces” in 11 locations ~

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Demonstration experiments to ensure more reliable "rest" opportunities for large vehicle drivers will begin sequentially from this fall.

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September 27, 2023
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Central Japan Expressway Co., Ltd.
West Japan Expressway Co., Ltd.

East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. (NEXCO EAST), Central Japan Expressway, Ltd. (NEXCO CENTRAL), and West Japan Expressway, Ltd. (NEXCO WEST) are working to improve convenience in Expressway service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA). In addition to expanding the number of parking spaces for large vehicles, in order to ensure that drivers of large vehicles have more reliable opportunities to rest, some of the parking spaces for large vehicles at 11 rest facilities will be limited to parking for 60 minutes or less. Demonstration experiments to develop and operate the parking spaces as "short-term parking spaces" will begin in the fall of 2023.
This demonstration experiment will change the opportunities for breaks by installing "short-term parking spaces" at rest facilities where large vehicles often leave the SA/PA without being able to park due to the presence of vehicles parked for long periods of time. The purpose is to verify the congestion situation including surrounding rest facilities, effective maintenance locations, etc.
Customers using the affected rest facilities are asked to park appropriately and follow the information signs inside the facilities.

1. Locations scheduled for demonstration experiments of short-term parking spaces

(11 locations separated by top and bottom ^*1)

An image of the planned demonstration experiment location for short-term parking spaces

NEXCO EAST jurisdiction:

E4 Tohoku Expressway Hasuda SA (In-bound), Kamikawachi Kamikawachi SA (In-bound), Adatara Adatara SA (Out-bound), Kunimi Kunimi SA (Out-bound)

NEXCO CENTRAL jurisdiction:

E1 Tomei Ashigara Ashigara SA (In-bound)

NEXCO WEST jurisdiction:

E2 Sanyo Expressway Fukuyama Fukuyama SA (Out-bound), Kibikibi SA (In-bound), Tatsunonishi Tatsunonishi SA (up and down)
E3 Kyushu Expressway Koga Koga SA (Out-bound),
E2A Chugoku Expressway Mito Mito SA (Out-bound)

※1）

In the future, the number of trial locations and squares may be Large based on the congestion situation in large vehicle parking areas.

2. Background to the introduction of short-term parking spaces

NEXCO EAST, NEXCO CENTRAL, and NEXCO WEST have expanded and changed the layout of parking spaces at rest facilities (SA/PA) since fiscal 2018, and have so far added approximately 3,000 parking spaces (large vehicles). Ta. We plan to add approximately 600 parking spaces (large vehicles) in fiscal 2023.
However, SA/PA areas, mainly in urban areas, remain congested, with a high proportion of vehicles parked for long periods of 8 hours or more. As a result, there are many vehicles leaving SA/PA without being able to park, and it is thought that they are missing out on opportunities to take a break.
(Example: E2A Chugoku Expressway Mito Mito SA (Out-bound))

[Number of stays]

[Drop-in number rate]

E2A Chugoku Expressway Mito Mito SA (Out-bound) Number of staying vehicles, rate of stopping by vehicles (License plate survey (conducted in 2021))

This demonstration experiment will secure opportunities for more vehicles to securely park by setting up some of the current large-vehicle parking spaces (including dual-purpose spaces) as "short-term parking spaces" for periods of up to 60 minutes. Therefore, we hope that vehicles that are forced to park for long periods of time will use relatively vacant SA/PA locations outside of urban areas.
This demonstration experiment is one of the measures compiled by the ``Study Group on Improving Convenience on Expressway SA/PA'' ^*2).

※2）

News release: Direction of improving convenience on Expressway SA/PA "Interim report"

3． Example of display and arrangement of short-term parking spaces

Signboards will be placed inside the rest facility to indicate the location of the "short-term parking spaces." In addition, road markings will be placed on parking spaces to make it clear that these are limited-time parking spaces. In the future, we plan to consider further necessary measures, such as implementing a strict monitoring system and image processing technology to determine parking time, based on the status of the demonstration experiment.
In preparation for the demonstration experiment, construction work will be carried out in the rest facility, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

Image image of <[E1] Tomei Ashigara SA (In-bound) layout example>

Image of <Guide to signboards and road markings>

Image of <image processing technology introduction>

Four. Request for use

Customers using short-term parking spaces are asked to park according to the information signs and road markings inside the rest facility, and to depart within 60 minutes after parking.
Additionally, if you will be parking for more than 60 minutes, please use a parking space other than the short-term parking spaces.

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