Up to 10,000 parking spaces will be added in Shanghai's downtown area by 2010 to serve drivers who work in small or medium size office buildings, the Oriental Morning Post reported today.

Construction of these parking spots will make full use of the current public green lands, according to a plan issued by the city's traffic management bureau yesterday.

Parking lots in city's center will share parking information via a computer system to ensure full use during rushing hours.

The bureau's target is that at least 70 percent of downtown parking spots should be in use during peak periods.

About 8,000 parking spaces will be added in major traffic transfer hubs in the suburbs to encourage residents to take public transits to work, school or shopping.

Parking fees will differ depending on the time of day. Short-term parking on specific roadsides is encouraged and will cost less.

The bureau has promised to set up both permanent and temporary parking facilities for the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

By 2010, the city will have an extra 300 kilometers of roads for public bus use only. The move may raise bus speeds during peak hours to 18 km per hour at most.

The city's public transport system should be able to deal with 16.9 million passengers a day by 2010.

Metro lines, which will be extended to 400 km, will play a very important role in the future, by transporting five million passengers a day, or 30 percent of all public transport users.

Meanwhile, the bureau will adjust 60 percent of terminal stops for public buses within three years to make them more convenient for neighboring residents.

An express bus line will also be built to connect the two railway stations, it said.

(Shanghai Daily September 13, 2007)