Babil Governorate Transportation Plan
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Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme in Iraq (UN- HABITAT) 2018 All rights reserved United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) www.unhabitat.org DISCLAIMER The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any county, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries regarding its economic system or degree of development. Excerpts may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the United Nations and its member states. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS UN-Habitat Iraq thanks the European Union for its support and interest in the governorates transportation plan and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in Iraq. This report was developed under the Local Area Development Programme (LADP-EU) Ms. Anna Soave and Mrs. Raniah Kamal, with contributions from Mr. Haitham Obiad, and Ms. Bozhan Hawizy The UN-Habitat team would like to express its deep gratitude to the officials in Babil Governorate and the head of the transportation committee Mr. Khalid Kadhim Hasan, Planning directory; Ahmed Ali Jassem AlHaydery, hilla municipality; Moosa Kadhim Abbas, hilla municipality; Ahmed Muhssien Nasir, Babil Municiplaties; Sahar Hassan Abed, Babil Municiplaties; Hameed Ali Lafta, Roads and Bridges Diretory; Mohan Kadhem Sherad, Roads and Bridges Diretory; Jabbar Oleiwi Lhis, Hilla Railway Directory; Ali Farhan Jasim, Hilla Railway Directory; Alaa Albakri, Urban Planning Directory; Tarek Maran Abeed, Public Transportation Private Co; Hayder Mohammed Ashekeh, Public Transportation Private Co. Finally, UN-Habitat acknowledges the firm support of the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, namely H.E. Dr Maher Johan, Deputy Minister; Dr Mohammed Muhsin Al Sayed, Director General of Local and Regional Development; and Dr Sawsan Jabbar Ibraheem, Head of Local Planning Department. Graphic design by Anna Soave. Cover page: Hillah City © Al-Jamiyah Deskgram TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 2 BABIL GOVERNORATE CONTEXT ........................................................ 4 Geographic location and administrative subdivisions .................... 4 Demographics ................................................................................. 4 Economy .......................................................................................... 5 Archaeological sites and worship places ......................................... 7 OVERVIEW OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IN BABIL GOVERNORATE ......................................................................................... 10 Road Network................................................................................ 10 Railway .......................................................................................... 11 Airport ........................................................................................... 11 Public transportation services ....................................................... 12 River transportation ...................................................................... 12 ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY NEEDS ................ 12 Issues, opportunities and challenges ............................................ 13 Review of the Transportation Sector Projects in the Structure Plan 17 TRANSLATING SUSTAINABLE GOALS INTO PLANS AND ACTIONS .... 18 Contemporary transportation planning approaches .................... 19 ENHANCING MOBILITY IN BABIL GOVERNORATE ............................ 28 PROPOSED PROJECTS AND MEETING GOALS ................................... 38 Bibliography ................................................................................................... 0 1 ACRONYMS EU European Union LADP Local Area Development Programme MOP Ministry of Planning SBAH State Board of Antiquities and Heritage UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UN-Habitat United Nations Human Settlements Programme WMF World Monument Fund UK United Kingdom GoI Government of Iraq NDP National Development Plan (Iraq) NUA New Urban Agenda SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (Analysis) TOD Transit-Oriented Development UN-Habitat United Nations Human Settlements SDGs Sustainable Development Goals EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Local Area Development Programme (LADP), funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UN-Habitat in close coordination with the Ministries of Planning (MOP) and Governorate-level authorities, was designed to address the main issues that hinder planning at the local level, the implementation of plans and related delivery of service to citizens of Iraq. Over the course of the past three years, LADP-EU has supported the development of coherent strategic frameworks for local planning that aimed to link investment expenditures to the achievements of the larger strategic investment priorities at both local or national levels embodied by the National Development Plan 2018-2022 and Iraq’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The New Urban Agenda (NUA), adopted by Member States in October 2016, provides a direct link between urbanization and sustainable development by offering a practical framework for its implementation at the local level. In doing so, it calls for a more effective, coordinated and accelerated implementation of urban development solutions that is needed to harness urbanization and unleash the potential of cities to provide solutions to poverty, inequality, climate change, and other barriers to sustainable development. Mobility is a key dynamic of urbanization, and the associated infrastructure invariably shapes the urban form. However, the most typical response to addressing urban mobility challenges has been to build roads and other infrastructure to cater for the ever-increasing numbers of personal vehicles. This has encouraged urban sprawl and low-density growth of cities – including in Iraq. Distances between functional, economic, social and civic destinations have become longer, leading to a growing dependency on cars and unsustainable freight systems. Widespread traffic gridlocks have now become the norm in many cities, impacting urban life through negative externalities such as pollution, noise stress, and accidents. In directing decision-makers’ and citizens’ attention beyond transport and mobility, the NUA calls for a paradigm shift in transport policy that encourages compact cities and mixed-land uses to increase accessibility and to reduce the need for transportation altogether. The NUA is in favour of more sustainable mobility concepts, such as affordable public transport systems with high passenger capacity and area coverage and low energy use. Urban space needs to be rethought in order to increase and encourage the use of non-motorized transport, such as walking or cycling. Streets need to be understood as public spaces that strengthen the connection between people and the places they share. Their designs need to be adapted to cater for the residents’ needs of active mobility, recreation and social interaction. In developing the Governorate Transportation Plans with counterparts of the pilot governorates of Maysan, Babil and Kerbala, LADP-EU has supported the introduction of contemporary approaches to the planning of transportation of people and goods in Iraq, the improvement of accessibility and the reduction of distances that are all key to the socio-economic enhancement of both rural and urban areas. The Transportation Plan here developed aim to align Governorate-level infrastructure priorities with the NDP priorities and goals – including social equity, economic growth and environmental sustainability. This document is divided in 6 parts: Part 1 provides a snapshot of the governorate, describing geographical, economic and sightseeing aspects that are relevant to its development prospects and future mobility needs. Part 2 offers a broad overview of transportation sectors, in terms of roads, railway, airports, public transportation services and water navigation in the governorate. Part 3 looks into the findings of the SWOT analysis, voiced concerns and opportunities, completed by the follow up discussions held with members of the Committee and transportation experts of each governorate. Part 4 aims to translate sustainable goals into recommended plans and actions by means of contemporary transportation planning approaches, illustrated by examples and case studies. Part 5 proposes the adoption of specific policies, approaches and measures to improve mobility and accessibility under six overarching Goals: Accessible to All, Equitable and Inclusive, Safe, Resilient, Environmentally Sustainable, and finally Affordable and Financial Sustainable. Part 6 concludes the document by providing a final summary Matrix of priority projects and Plan, as agreed by the Transportation Committee. Through its bottom-up and participatory approach, the LADP-EU program has attempted to contribute to a better understanding