Abstract:
Urban-rural integration is strategic deployment from central government that guides future development of urban and rural areas in China, of which urban-rural transport integration is an essential part. There has long been quality gap as well as institutional difference between urban and rural road infrastructure. The gap between demand and reality for rural roads in suburban areas is conspicuous. By analyzing major regulations and standards on road infrastructure as well as specific circumstances, the research points out key issues: the mismatch between standards and demands, complication in responsible government units for planning and construction, as well as lack of management and maintenance. The research suggests exploring a unified system that integrates urban and rural roads at stages of planning, construction, management, and maintenance based on the wholistic spatial management structure constructed by territorial spatial planning system. It recommends application of urban standards to major rural roads in suburban area, and integration of such rural roads into the system of city construction and maintenance to improve the level of rural roads management and construction. Lastly, the article carries out a case study on a design project of Shenyang Village in Shanghai to provide an empirical reference for integrating metropolitan suburban areas with urban areas.