Politics
Yanaka City Council Approves Green Corridor Project, Allocating 4.2 Billion Yen to Bike Lanes in Three Wards
Residents in Kita, Higashi and Chuo wards gain 12 kilometres of new paths while Minami ward receives no new transport funds in the 2027 budget cycle.
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How we reported this
The Yanaka City Council passed the Green Corridor Project ordinance on July 7 by an 8-3 vote. The measure redirects 4.2 billion yen from the general revenue fund to build dedicated bike lanes and widened footpaths linking Yanaka Central Station with the northern industrial parks.
The decision follows the Yanaka Transport Authority's March 2026 mobility report, which documented average one-way commute times of 42 minutes for workers in the three northern and central wards. Council documents show the project responds to rising fuel costs recorded in the same report and forms part of the city's five-year transport plan adopted in 2024.
Daily travel for residents in Kita ward will change first. Workers who currently drive the 6-kilometre route to factories can use the new paths once segments open in 2027. Families in Higashi ward gain direct access to schools along the corridor without crossing two lanes of traffic. Chuo ward households near the station receive shorter walking distances to shops and the main bus interchange.
Budget shifts and ward allocations
The legislation states that 3.1 billion yen will cover construction in Kita and Higashi wards, with the remaining 1.1 billion yen assigned to Chuo ward. The same document lists a 120 million yen reduction in the community centre maintenance line that previously covered Minami ward facilities. The Yanaka Municipal Budget Paper for Fiscal Year 2027 records these exact transfers.
Minami ward receives no corridor funding. Residents there continue to rely on the existing road network without the new paths or the projected time savings listed for the other three wards. The council vote also leaves the southern district's requested pedestrian crossing upgrades unfunded for the coming fiscal year.
Implementation timeline
Engineering surveys begin in August 2026. Construction is projected to start in October 2026 and finish by March 2028, according to the project schedule attached to the ordinance. The city will issue quarterly progress reports through the Yanaka Transport Authority starting in January 2027.