The metro system provides inadequate service to the city's northern and southern areas, with one line currently running east west and the other following the path of the second ring road. Olympic preparation plans include some RMB 90 billion (US$ 10.8 billion) for various kinds of transportation improvements to the inner-city light rail system and the metro, the inner-city expressway system, and outlying high-speed expressways, as well as the accelerated completion of the city's ring road system. The Beijing government has made the completion of the city's light rail system a high priority over the next five years, with more than 100 km of new light rail currently under construction. Beijing's plans also include the completion of the No.5 metro line, the Batong and Chunyi branch metro lines, and the Wangjing branch line. Within the same time frame, the city will complete preparatory work to launch construction of the No.4 and No.9 metro lines. As a result of this work, by 2006 Beijing will have 138 km of inner-city metro and light rail lines, up from the current 53 km.
