Urban Transport in the Developing World

1. Urban Transport in the Developing World

2. Elements of Urban Transport Sector • Urban public transport: • On-street systems (for buses, trolley-buses, trams) • Mixed on-street and off-street systems (bus lanes, bus ways and light rail) • Off-street systems (metros and commuter rail) • The urban road system • Traffic management systems (for increasing the efficiency of available road space) • Non-motorized transport systems (facilities for pedestrians and people powered vehicles) • Urban transport institutions (planning, design, finance, implementation, and enforcement)

3. Purpose • Purpose of urban transport. Successful urban transport systems ought to increase commercial and labor market efficiency, increase access to amenities, and make changes in the scale and form of urban agglomerations possible, all without undue adverse effects on the environment.

4. Importance • Importance of urban transport. The urban sector in most developing countries accounts for at least 50 percent of the gross national product and in some countries over 70 %. Cities in developing countries often devote 15 % to 25 % of their annual expenditures to their transport systems, and sometimes much more. • Household expenditures on urban transport. In developing countries it is common to find that 5 % to 10 % of urban household income is spent on transport. In some cases the figure is 15% or more.

5. General Trends in Urban Transport Sector • Rapid growth of urban areas. Cities are major engines of growth in most developing countries, and urban populations are expanding at a high rate (more than 6 percent annually or doubling in size in less than 12 years). • Very rapid increase in motorization. Urban motor vehicle ownership and usage is growing even faster than the urban population. Vehicle ownership growth rates of 15-20% per year in developing countries is not uncommon. This has been largely caused by growing per capita incomes in urban areas.

6. General Trends in Urban Transport Sector • Substantial increases in traffic congestion. Ownership and usage of vehicles is growing much faster than the ability to provide road space and alternative means of coping with the problem. Severe traffic congestion, and its adverse side effects on the urban economy, environment, and society are being felt in many cities. • Relative decline of public transport usage and services. The growing reliance on private vehicles has resulted in a substantial decline in the share of total trips being provided by urban public transport systems in many cities. Similarly, the travel environment for pedestrians and people-powered vehicles has rapidly declined. This trend is particularly unfavorable for the urban poor as they are typically captive riders and often dependent on public transit for access to employment.

7. General Trends in Urban Transport Sector • Shift from public to private sector provision of services and facilities. The public sector is increasingly relying on the private sector to provide these facilities and services. It is estimated that at least 80% of all urban bus services provided around the world are now privately owned and operated. Increasingly cities are arranging for the private provision of urban transport infrastructure. In short, cities are moving from providers of transport infrastructure and services to facilitators.

8. General Trends in Urban Transport Sector • Shift from new road construction to intensive management of urban road networks and improved public transit. Growing recognition that cities cannot build enough road capacity to accommodate the growth in travel demand by means of the private vehicle. • While road networks will be required, especially in rapidly growing cities, greater reliance is being placed on (a) more intensive management of travel demand, (b) traffic management techniques to increase the practical capacity of available road space, and (c) improved urban public transport systems.

9. General Trends in Urban Transport Sector • Rapid introduction of Intelligent Technology Systems (ITS). recent development of improved "intelligent technologies" (electronic toll collection systems, centralized traffic control systems, automatic vehicle location systems for public transport systems, and other similar technologies) has resulted in better utilizing urban transport facilities. • The costs of these technologies are rapidly declining while their practical applications improve. This presents an opportunity for those developing countries with adequate financial and staff resources to "leapfrog" forward in applying these technologies to urban transport problems.

10. General Trends in Urban Transport Sector • Potential for better acceptance and deployment of demand management techniques. • Charge road users for the use of scarce road space, primarily as a means of maximizing the use of urban roads during congested periods, and secondarily as a means of securing additional funds for transport investments. • Proposals have been repeatedly rejected due to their political unpopularity. Up to the present these systems have been deployed in city centers only in Singapore and three Norwegian cities. • With the introduction of much improved electronic road pricing technologies, the practical application of pricing may be ready for acceptance and more widespread deployment. • Experience has shown that public acceptance of pricing schemes can be substantially enhanced by earmarking the funds that are collected expressly for additional urban transport improvements.

11. Issues Requiring Attention • Adverse Impacts of Rapid Growth in Vehicle Ownership and Use • Inadequate Urban Transport Financial Mechanisms • Inadequate Urban Transport Regulation and Legislation • Weak and Fragmented Urban Transportation Institutions

12. Shanghai Mass Transit

13. Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit