Abstract
LRT (Light Rail Transit) has become very popular worldwide, however, in Japan LRT projects have stalled. There has been various papers written related to LRT but only a few studies have analyzed the process of LRT implementation and the role of LRT in urban planning/total transport plans. It is important to analyze root problems that Japanese LRT projects face by comparing successfully completed projects in other parts of the world, especially Europe where success has been most vivid. In this paper, the authors focus on the tram system of Nottingham, England, the paper based on interviews with LRT office staff, site surveys and Local Tramsport Plan. Analysis centers on the implementation planning stage, including project structure, financial resources, contract method and the formation of means to evaluate outcomes. Also, by comparing this case study to previous research done in France, common strategies of France and UK are contrasted to problematic approaches in Japan.
