June 18, 2008 Chairman Yano's regular press conference

(Moderator)

Then we will start a regular conference.

(Chairman)

Hello everyone.
There are some topics today, so I will explain in order.

First is the business overview, May. Fee income in May was minus 3.5% year-on-year. The breakdown is 4.7% for high speed and 9.5% for general pay. As I always say, the main factor behind this was the decline in revenue due to the increase in discounts associated with the spread of ETC. General tolls are due to the effects of opening the Ken-O Road. As I said, toll revenue is minus 3.5%, but the number of traffic is plus 1.3%. High speed is plus 0.1%, general pay is plus 6.4%. The ETC discount amount is 15.1 billion yen, and if there is no ETC discount, the revenue will be 64.6 billion, and the ETC discount rate for this month is 23.4%.

The construction situation has not changed. On July 5, the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway will open from Hida Kiyomi to Shirakawa-go, and the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway will finally reach its full reach. I would be very grateful if everyone could make time and come to the opening ceremony.

Regarding the contract win rate for major works, the average bid rate in May was 86.84%. The cumulative total for the fiscal year is the cumulative total for April and May, but it has reached 86.27% for the two months.

Next is the use situation of ETC. Looking at the record from June 6th to 12th, it is 76.3%, and the week from May 9th to 15th of the previous month is 76.4%, which is almost flat. The average usage rate on weekdays in June is 78.5%, and the average usage rate on weekends and holidays is 70.6%. On Saturdays and Sundays, the situation is over 70% following last month.

Regarding SA, sales were 103.3% compared to the previous year. The food and drink department is 105.2%, the product sales department is 105.7%, the service department is 100%, the gasoline department is 97.4%, and the advertising department is 100%.
The above is the current state of the business.

Next, I will explain the topics. First of all, I would like to inform you that we will establish a new "External and Public Relations Department". As of July 1, we have decided to create a new department within the planning headquarters. We would like to further enhance our public relations and public relations activities. Tohru Koyama will be appointed as the public relations and public relations manager.

Next, I am currently working on the Shin-Tomei Expressway reading project, but I am currently working on aiming for a world-leading Expressway system, and I have held several meetings until now, and in most directions I have just added it. Kimura will report on the contents.

 

(Manager)

We have handed out a document with an A4 vertical cover and a PowerPoint behind it, so please take a look.
The first page summarizes the basic concept of leading Expressway around the world, as the Chairman just said.
On the second page, we have a structure in which the left side of the Company is the Construction Business Headquarters, the center is the Related Business Headquarters, and the right side is the Maintenance and Service Business Headquarters.
On the third page, we set the four priority themes, which are the directions we should aim for: realization of safety and security, response to the environment, realization of diverse lifestyles, and realization of a vibrant society.
The next page shows the long-term goals for each of the four perspectives that I have just talked about.This is the long-term goal for 2020 and 2020 when Shin-Tomei Expressway is fully open, but the long-term goal is the right government goal. Is set as a reference. This is a summary of the effects when various service menus are realized from page 5 onwards. For example, the goal is to bring the number of fatalities to as close to 0 as possible for safety and security. It should be noted that the reduction of carbon dioxide in the environment by half means that the emission reduction effect of the vehicle alone is included.
The fifth page is the service menu introduction process. Although it is in tabular form, the preparation period above, this is the preparation period including the current period. And, in 2012, it is the deadline of the promise to open Shin-Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka prefecture. The period from 2012 to 2020 when all lines are open is positioned as the short-term target service development period, and the period after 2020 as the long-term target service development period. And as a basic strategy for introduction, for example, there is a road manager related system (example) at the top, but we will prepare a system such as automatic detection of falling objects and accurate travel time measurement. There is a customer service (example), but in the short-term place, we will provide safety information or route information that will help Tomei to properly select the route of Shin-Tomei Expressway. However, there are some measures to guide large vehicles, but after all, looking at the questionnaire of general drivers, it is scary if you are driving with a large vehicle. Has a short-term goal of having them visit Shin-Tomei Expressway.
Below, we have set long-term goals. For example, if we make a dedicated lane for freight cars and ask them to drive vehicles that are connected or platooned, we will supply electricity to electric vehicles and supply electricity. I am making things like. After that, there is a frame called proof experiment from FY 2009 in the preparation period, but since this is quite completed in Shizuoka prefecture, I will describe that I want to conduct proof experiment of various menus with such a section as an experiment field I am.
There are other related trends at the bottom, but research on electric vehicles and platooning is being promoted elsewhere as well, and we aim to realize such a system while cooperating with such places. about it.
It is the sixth page. It is a picture of what I just talked about. The image on the left is the current Tomei Expressway, and the image on the right is Shin-Tomei Expressway. For the time being, it will be a temporary 4 lane, 2 lanes on each side, and in the future it will be a completed cross section of 6 lanes with 3 lanes each. It says that information is provided or safety information is provided, and when the number of lanes becomes 6 in the long run, a lane dedicated to freight vehicles is also made on the side of the central divider in the current picture. However, it is expressed like this because it may be made somewhere.
The 7th page writes about the management inside the tunnel in terms of road management. Among them is the ceramic metal halide lamp, which uses a filamentless lamp that has a lifespan that is 5 times longer than conventional fluorescent lamps, which reduces replacement costs and reduces lane regulations for replacement. Therefore, we are considering installing Shin-Tomei Expressway with the aim of introducing it newly. In addition, we are planning to develop technology for an automatic inspection robot that does not require lane regulation and install a tunnel name plate.
8 pages. Regarding maintenance vehicles in terms of road management. There is cleaning using cavitation on the left side, which usually boils water at 100 degrees, but at lower temperature and pressure, it is called cavitation state, but the water boiled here is The air bubbles in the are hit against the lamp, and the impact of the bubbles bursts the cleaning. You can hit bubbles while traveling at 50 km / h, so we are currently in the final test, but this is not the first introduction at Shin-Tomei Expressway, but such high-tech equipment is I introduced it because it will be used.
In addition, there is a fallen object automatic collection device in the lower right. You may think it's a big deal, but now it's close to 90,000 fallen items a year, more than 200 if you fix it a day, but it is collected manually, but it is automatically collected It means developing a device and aiming for safety and speed.
Page 9 is a picture of the SA parking lot. For example, we will guide you smoothly to an empty parking space, and will inform you more carefully about the information gathering at the rest facilities and more carefully inform you about the congestion. It also describes that we aim to be an environmentally friendly SA such as sunlight, wind power, and a power supply stand.
The 10th page is also an image of SA's rest facility. A comfortable toilet space where you can relax in a comfortable space, restaurants that make use of local ingredients and industries, fresh markets, product sales, and provide real-time information to customers including foreign tourists. We would like to aim for a rest facility that realizes this even more.
Page 11 is omitted because it is a point to consider for realization.
Page 12 is an approach for the time being, and the menu I just talked about has various problems. We will continue to study such issues, system design, and feasibility, and deepen the examination for business implementation this fiscal year. In the next fiscal year and 2009, we will confirm the feasibility of various menus in demonstration experiments. At the same time, we would like to link it to the start of short-term service in 2012.
I have summarized the contents like this as a result of last year, so I would like to report it. that's all.

 

(Chairman)

Next is the next topic, but there is an ETC excursion plan discount for all the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway commemorative trips. This issue was announced on May 29 by the Nagoya Regional Head Office, but today we have prepared a brochure that has not been distributed. I hope you will refer to it. This time, we will travel around the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway or the Hokuriku area, or the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway or the Nagoya area, with both Nagoya and Hokuriku areas as the departure and arrival points, from July 5 to September 30 It is scheduled. So far, we have implemented 19 planned discounts, this time the 20th. It is gradually becoming known to everyone in the world, and it is a pleasure for us. The Hokuriku 3 prefectures ETC excursion plan, which we had been running until June 16, last year, has received 2,250 cases. It is from July 5th to September, but we would appreciate it if more people could use it. We would like to support wide-area tourism in this region together with tourism promotion utilizing our various capabilities. In that sense, I would like to continue to develop various projects.

Then, next, about the new PA store scheduled to open in July, this is announced today. Some of the buildings are quite old, and we are planning to renew them with 6 PAs and open them sequentially from July. There is a list on the next page of the material, and each picture is included, so I hope you can refer to it, but there are three individualization projects, that is, projects that make use of the characteristics of the region. One is the Orebo station in Kita-Sabae PA (Out-bound), where you can enter a local convenience store. Then there is Magome and Yufune no Sato in Misaka PA (In-bound), which is a building that expresses the atmosphere of the famous Magome inn and the taste of the town, especially in the area, although there is a picture on page 6 near the end of the material. It is about preparing special products and meals. The other is Nakai PA (In-bound), which is Nakai Noodle Inn, so I'm trying to eat handmade soba noodles. In this way, we will work together with the local people to improve the convenience of those who go on the road. We intend to continue opening and renewing stores at SA / PA, and we will announce a part of this as a progress.

The next one is also announced today, but this is the first time for the SA / PA summer promotional campaign, but it is for the first time that Pokemon will appear in "Pokemon", from July 18th to August 31st. During the period until the day, we will carry out a campaign with each SA / PA in our jurisdiction. There are two types of Pokemon goods present campaign and Pokemon stamp rally, and stamp rally is quite popular mainly for children, so I think that there are many people who will be using this time and looking forward to it. I am.

Next is to start selling alcoholic beverage catalogs at SA / PA. As the first bullet, we will start on the In-bound of Rigging Hill SA. We will start accepting wine at our stores from July 1st. There are two ways to order, one is to see the panel placed in the store and accept the order at the store, and the other is to take the catalog home and order from home. Moreover, for the time being, I would like to start selling at the store with panel pictures and start selling catalogs as soon as possible. In the case of Dangozaka SA, we will partner with 6 local wine makers and start with 14 types of wine. I would like to spread it in other areas as well. Of course, it's an Expressway, so we don't put the actual sake on it, but sell it on a panel or in a catalog.

Then, I think that you may have it as a topic, but we are handing out materials related to the activities associated with the whole Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway and opening Yasai Village on Achi PA (Out-bound) on the ChuoExpwy. . Nagara River SA (Out-bound) will be reopened on June 30, and events and fairs will be held in each area according to the whole road.There are Seki SA and Nagara River SA on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, but Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway not only Hokuriku Expressway of Oyabe thing that trying to do a variety of campaign in SA · PA except SA · PA, including the River SA and Ariisoumi SA, then the Aichi, Gifu and Mie of the third sector. Then, Seki SA and Nagara SA will start selling the quick valve on July 5th. In addition, all speed valves will be renewed into the summer menu, so we are currently selling at 18 places, but now we will add 2 places to a total of 20 places. And the sale of the original product "Yumetensei 2000". Yasai Village is currently operating at 7 locations, but when we start at Achi PA this time, there are 8 locations in total.

This concludes the explanation from us.

 

(Moderator)

Then, thank you if you have any questions.

(Reporter)

Regarding the new project about Shin-Tomei Expressway, is there any other Expressway that has not been introduced so far? In addition, I think that there are various examples of introduction of accurate route information in real time and eco-driving support even in the private sector with car navigation systems, but is there any epoch-making point in this content? I think that it will cost a lot of money for development and introduction, but please tell us about the scale and who will bear the burden.

(Chairman)

The cost will be borne by us. Kimura will answer the technical questions.

(Manager)

As I mentioned earlier, we are currently in the process of developing a technology for automatically collecting fallen objects, for example, but we have not yet introduced it. Cavitation technology is nearing practical application, and this is not the first time Shin-Tomei Expressway has adopted it, but it will be adopted by Shin-Tomei Expressway. In terms of tunnels, we are studying a ceramic metal halide lamp that has a long life, aiming to introduce it at Shin-Tomei Expressway. Then, in the service menu on the 6th page, as you said, there are things that have been realized by other private sector bases as well, but we are also going to get various information with ETC, and we will also get probe information It is an issue. We are also considering whether we can cooperate with other private companies to provide information jointly. There is an item called "Eco-driving control support by providing road information in advance", but this is, for example, at In-bound slope called sag that causes traffic congestion, guidance to maintain speed in cooperation with navigation in advance. I think that it will be done, and considering such a device, considering the time, I think that the introduction time will be around 2012 when the section in Shizuoka prefecture of Shin-Tomei Expressway opens. Not all of them are new to Shin-Tomei Expressway, but Shin-Tomei Expressway wants to be able to use various cutting-edge technologies, so I will list them. Masu

(Reporter)

It may take more than two weeks to open Tokai-Hokuriku Expwy, so I think there are many issues such as overall safety measures, but please tell us your current aspirations for opening. Also, looking at the materials about the ETC excursion plan, there seems to be merits for people in the direction of Nagoya and Hokuriku, but there seems to be not much merits for those along the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. Please let us know if you have any consideration regarding consideration for people along the line.

(Chairman)

The first question is, 36 years after the construction of the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway in the first place, 11 years after starting the advanced mine of the Hida tunnel, which was a difficult construction in history, and 10 years after starting the main mine. I see. It's been less than 15 years since we started the section from Hida Kiyomi to Shirakawa-go, so we've kept you waiting for a long time, but we've finally reached the point where it will open on July 5th. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your support, encouragement, and support. To explain the current status of construction, the road itself, the tunnels and bridges, the interior of the tunnel, etc. have all been completed, and we are in the process of final checking. After checking the individual devices, we are in the process of checking the entire system, focusing on safety in particular, we plan to cooperate with the control center in Ichinomiya and check various cases. The situation is that you are proceeding. At the end of the month, we plan to conduct a comprehensive disaster prevention drill to open on July 5th. We would like to thank all of you again for the fact that we were able to reach this day by working hard, and as a party, we are truly impressed. Thank you so much for everything.
After that, it is the second tour plan, but for the local people, we will offer a discount on the fare of the section to be opened from July 5 to the end of October, so for those who use this section even if it is not a tour Will provide such services. Even in the excursion plan that I went to until June 16, I realized how important wide area tourism is and how important roads play, so this time I will not only go from one side to the excursion area but also , It has a shape that allows you to go to each other's tour area from both sides. I would like to continue planning discounts for a long time, and I would like to make various new plans and offer them to everyone.

(Reporter)

Regarding the opening of the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. There are two lanes in the north of the Shirotori IC, but please tell us how you will work as a company to make all lanes four lanes.

(Chairman)

We would like to cherish the problem of four lanes as a future issue. However, in order to realize this, it is not possible for us to do it alone, we need the strong support of the local people, and we need to make a definite decision at the meeting of the concerned people at the national level. In some sense, I think this is a business that requires social consensus. The reason why we need four lanes for this section is for safety. In particular, the fact that the 10.7 km Hida tunnel is a two-way street is a great concern for safety. Even so, we will utilize the latest technology, install the latest equipment, and strive for safety measures while doing the best operation, but I think that that place is 4 lanes is very important in the long run I see. In that sense, as a road company, we would like to appeal the need for four lanes. However, as I said at the beginning, the reality is that even if you think that there will be no social consensus and that it will not be decided in the form of an agreement, it will not be realized.

(Reporter)

In the current story, for example, if four chairs were realized as the chairman hoped, there would be a problem that too many cars would run there, and Nakanihon Expressway suffered that it seems that it will not run much. Please tell us about your thoughts about this.

(Chairman)

I agree. After all, I think that how traffic volume is changing is an important factor when making a final decision. I would like to start by seeing such changes in the situation according to the facts. Therefore, since this section has opened, we do not aim to have four lanes immediately, but check the actual safety level of the actual traffic, and as the traffic volume naturally increases, there may be concerns about safety. I think that it is necessary to act depending on the situation. Even if we exchange opinions with people in the Chubu and Hokuriku economic zones, or talk with the mayor of a local government, we expect that the flow of people and goods will become quite active. In that sense, I currently expect that the traffic volume will increase steadily after opening, but I would like to confirm what it will actually be and take action.

(Moderator)

If you have no other questions, we will end the 32nd regular press conference.
Thank you for being busy today.

(Chairman)

Thank you very much.