Akihiro Ito currently serves as General Manager of the Tokyo Project Development Department within the Corporate Planning Division at Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). He has been extensively involved in the development, infrastructure planning, and improvement of areas along the Tokaido Shinkansen line. His work also focuses on regional revitalization related to the four intermediate stations of the Chuo Shinkansen (maglev line) currently under construction. Since March 2024, he has been a member of the secretariat for a national government council addressing regional formation in conjunction with the Chuo Shinkansen’s launch. With a strong background in civil engineering and railway infrastructure, his career spans roles such as General Manager of the Kakegawa Tracks Maintenance Depot, project manager for seismic reinforcement of elevated structures, and head of construction planning and environmental assessment for the Chuo Shinkansen in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Professor of Transportation at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Presentation Title: CASPT History and Future Urban Public Transport Service

Abstract: CASPT that can be termed as the lighthouse of public transport has a history of 50-year, starting in Chicago in 1975. This presentation will start by showing some milestones of this 50-year history. The presentation will continue with the realization that presently, in 2025, it is evident that more than half the world’s population resides in cities, and growth is expected almost exclusively in cities. Accordingly, urban growth acceleration can be expected to result in healthier, more efficient and more productive living for city dwellers. The believed solutions for the future rely on public transport (PT) modes of travel, regardless of whether they are metro, bus, light rail, tram, Uber service, an ordinary taxi, personal-rapid transit or any other PT-based future mode, moving horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, on surface, elevated, or underground. The core claim of the presentation justifies replacing private cars (PCs) with existing and future PT vehicles. In testing 17 major cities globally, 94% of the scenarios proved PT superior or equivalent to PCs for reducing travel time. Moreover, it shows a potential reduction in car traffic by approximately two-thirds compared with the current situation.

Francesco Viti

Dean of Engineering, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director GREAT Smart Cities Institute of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Presentation Title: Sustainable management strategies for a mixed fleet of electric and diesel buses under driving range uncertainty

Abstract: In transit-oriented metropolis, emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles, mostly buses, may constitute up to 80-90% of roadside emissions. It is difficult to address the air quality problem without addressing the emissions from buses. Electric buses (EB) are often considered as an important part of the solution, albeit EB deployment encounters major obstacles, such as limited driving range, scarcity of charging facility, and of course, vehicle cost. How to route and schedule EB under range and recharging constraints is a key problem to be tackled. Moreover, the EB driving range is subject to uncertainty, which may vary with congestion, passenger loading, etc. This presentation will investigate the interplay among three stakeholders in the development of sustainable mixed-bus fleet management strategies: operator, passengers, and government. Such an understanding will facilitate the development of bus fleet management strategies and subsidy policies for ensuring their financial viability, maintaining passenger travel convenience, and reducing emissions. We will use Hong Kong case studies to show practicality and highlight the trade-offs between electric bus deployment and strategic charging infrastructure.

Dr. Kiyohito Utsunomiya is a Professor of Economics at Kansai University, Osaka in Japan. He received his B.A. from Kyoto University, his M.A. from Manchester University, and his Ph.D. from Kyoto University. Dr. Utsunomiya had worked as an economist at the Bank of Japan and moved to Kansai University in 2011. He was also a guest professor at the Institute of Transportation at The Vienna University of Technology from 2017 to 2018. His recent research topic is the relationship between public transportation and society. Dr. Utsunomiya won The Japan Society of Transpiration Economics (JSTE) Award 2021 and The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences (IATSS) Award 2021 for his book, “Integrated Policy of Local Public Transportation.” He is currently vice president of JSTE. He also serves on various committees for public transportation in cities and regions in Japan.

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University

Presentation Title: Is fare-free transit just?

Abstract: This study examines whether fare-free transit (FFT) aligns with John Rawls’s theory of justice. We focus on the difference principle—which calls for allocating resources to benefit the most disadvantaged travelers—and contrast it with a utilitarian approach that aims to maximize overall utility. FFT is of course not free.  Without farebox revenue, transit agencies must either reduce services or secure alternative funding through local taxes and fees.  Thus, our analysis integrates both financial and operational decisions, while capturing the interplay between traffic congestion, travelers’ income levels, and mode choices. Moreover, we extend our analysis to evaluate a reduced-fare scheme for disadvantaged travelers, comparing its welfare gains and operational efficiency with those of a fully fare-free design. Drawing on a case study based on empirical data from Chicago, we explore the practical compromises required to reconcile the diverse interests and ideologies that shape transit design.