Sources have revealed that City Hall and Nishitetsu are teaming up to introduce a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, complete with articulated buses, next June. The plan calls for the use of 18 m-long, 130-seat articulated buses—basically two buses connected by a pivoting joint—on a rapid express loop service connecting Tenjin to Hakata and Hakata Port. Nishitetsu is currently test driving articulated buses borrowed from the Kanagawa City Transportation Bureau in the downtown area. The aim of the BRT is to alleviate traffic in Fukuoka’s most congested areas. According to plans released by City Hall and Nishitetsu in April, the project will cost ¥1.8 billion and entail purchasing two articulated buses in 2016. the number of buses will be gradually stepped up to 15 by 2020. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 8/19
