Mayor’s Office City Hall The Queen’s Walk More London London SE1 2AA Sally Hamwee AM Switchboard: 020 7983 4000 Deputy Chair of the Budget Committee Minicom: 020 7983 4157 London Assembly Web: www.london.gov.uk City Hall Our ref: The Queen’s Walk More London Date: London SE1 2AA Dear Sally
Energy Funding Contribution and Co-Operation Agreement
Please find information in response to the Committees questions:
1. Details of the GLA office in Caracas including what staff are (currently or planned to be) based there
On 20 February 2007 the Mayor signed the Energy Funding Contribution and Co-Operation Agreement. The Agreement specified that an office would be set up in Venezuela to facilitate the provision of technical advice and assist with the development of co-operation projects. Transport for London are responsible for managing the contracts relating to the office and the costs of doing so are provided in the response to the Committee made by Peter Hendy. Two members of staff are currently employed by Transport for London (TfL) on temporary contacts. They are as follows:
• Consultant Advising London Venezuela Office - The primary function of this role is to advise and assist the Mayor’s Office and appropriate Greater London Authority (GLA) functional bodies with the development of co operation projects as agreed with the GLA and the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and outlined in the Energy Funding Contribution and Co-operation Agreement. This position is a full time post
• Representative Officer - This post provides administrative and logistical support to the London Venezuela Office, including arranging meetings, translating documents and providing interpretation where required. They also assist with the running of co-operation projects as agreed with the GLA and the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and outlined in the Energy Funding Contribution and Co-operation Agreement as required. Initially this position will be a part time post.
The recruitment of permanent positions will be undertaken in due course.
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2. Records of visits made to Venezuela by the Mayor or GLA members, employees or contractors since the agreement was made Four trips to Venezuela have been completed by employees of the GLA since the signing of the Agreement. These are as follows:
March - Kevin Austin (Head of Transport) and Anneliese Midgely (Business Manager Culture) June - Kevin Austin. June - Kevin Austin, Joy Johnson (Director of Media & Marketing), Judith Woodward (Snr Policy Advisor), Anneliese Midgely September – Mark Watts (Snr Policy Advisor), Shirely Rodrigues (Head of Environment), Andy Deacon (Strategy Manager), Kevin Austin
3. Full itineraries and schedules of those visits Itineraries of these visits are contained in Annex A.
4. Records of any additional services or work required to cover for absent staff, including the costs of such work No additional services were required to cover absent staff as the length of time away did not warrant the arrangement of cover.
5. All records of meetings and other business activities that took place on those visits Following the March visit a paper was produced highlighting the potential areas of co-operation in transport matters. This is contained in Annex B. A document detailing potential areas of co- operation in environmental matters is currently being prepared. I would be happy to provide the Committee with this information in due course.
6. Documents produced to prepare for those visits Please find these in Annex C
7. Reports or write-ups of the visits or their outcomes See Annex B
8. Records of activities undertaken or commissioned by the GLA with or for the government of Venezuela to fulfill this agreement Encompassed within reports.
9. Any plans for future activity by or on behalf of the GLA to fulfill this agreement There will be future visits by the relevant teams covering areas as specified in the Agreement.
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10. Details of evaluation work and measurement of impact so far undertaken or planned for work with or for the government of Venezuela
Transport for London’s submission to the Committee contains details of the take-up and usage of the Bus and Tram Discount scheme. The GLA continues to work with the Government of Venezuela regarding co- operation projects as part of the Agreement. In additional to the environmental area discussions are envisaged regarding co-operation in areas of tourism and culture. Future reports will be produced on these areas.
Yours sincerely
Redmond O’Neill Director of Public Affairs and Transport
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6 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
VISITA DE TRABAJO FUNCIONARIOS ALCALDÍA DE LONDRES: ANNELIESE MIDGLEY Y KEVIN AUSTIN 25 AL 30 DE MARZO 2007
Agenda Propuesta Domingo, 25 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
13:55 Arribo a Caracas Grupo de PDVSA asignará un vehículo con Vuelo – Air France 0460 Implementación conductor durante toda la visita a Traslado Maiquetía-Hotel. Venezuela de la Delegación de GLA.
16:30 Arribo al Hotel Intercontinental Tamanaco GLA PDVSA asignará un intérprete que Final Av. Principal de Las Mercedes acompañará durante toda la estadía a los funcionarios de GLA. Telf. Recepción 58-212-9097111 Fax: 58-212-9097116 Web:
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Lunes, 26 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
09:00 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE. Grupo de Implementación 10:00 Reunión de trabajo con el Grupo de Implementación. Grupo de Se utilizará traducción simultánea. Implementación 13:00 Almuerzo. Grupo de Implementación 14:00 Horas de trabajo en las oficinas del Despacho de Europa. DVME
16:00 Reunión Grupo de Trabajo Ambiente. Grupo de Instituciones Convocadas: Lugar: MPPRE Implementación 1. Grupo de Implementación. 2. Ministerio del Ambiente 3. Instituto de Canalizaciones 18:00 Traslado MRE-Hotel Grupo de Implementación
Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 8 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Martes, 27 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES 08:30 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE. Grupo de Implementación 10:00 Reunión Interinstitucional Grupo de Transporte. Grupo de Se utilizará traducción simultánea. Lugar: Casa Amarilla Almuerzo. Implementación
Convocados: 1. Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Infraestructura; 2. Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente; 3. Gobernación de Miranda; 4. Alcaldía Mayor Metropolitana; 5. Alcaldía del Municipio Libertador; 6. Alcaldía del Municipio Sucre; 7. Alcaldía de Vargas; 8. Alcaldía de Guarenas; 9. Alcaldía de Guatire; 10. Alcaldía de Los valles del Tuy; 11. Fundación Fondo Nacional de Transporte Urbano; 12. Instituto Nacional de Transito y Transporte Terrestre; 13. C.A Metro de Caracas. 13:30 Almuerzo. DVME
15:00 Reunión de trabajo Grupo de Información y Opinión. Grupo de Convocados: Lugar: MPPRE. Implementación 1. Dirección de Información y Opinión MRE. 2. Gcia. Comunicaciones Internacionales PDVSA. 3. MINCI. 18:00 Traslado MRE-Hotel. Grupo de Implementación
Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 9 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Miércoles, 28 de marzo de 2007 HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES 08:30 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE. Grupo de Implementación 10:00 Reunión de trabajo Interinstitucional Grupo de Cultura. Grupo de Por GLA asistirá Anneliese Lugar: Instituto de Altos Estudios Diplomáticos Pedro Gua.l Implementación Migdgley, Convocados: 1. Dirección de Cultura DVME. 2. Ministerio de la Cultura/Dirección de Rel. Internacionales. 3. Centro Arte La Estancia/ PDVSA. 4. Biblioteca Nacional. 5. Fundapatrimonio. 6. INAMUJER. 7. Dirección de Cultura de las Alcaldías Metropolitana,Libertador, Sucre, Guarenas, Guatire Vargas. 10:00 Reunión de trabajo Interinstitucional con el Ministerio del Poder Grupo de Por GLA asistirá Kevin Austin. Popular para el Ambiente. Implementación Lugar: MPPA. Torre Sur, Centro Simón Bolívar, piso 28. 13:00 Almuerzo DVME
14:30 Reunión con la Gcia. de Planificación Metro de Caracas. Grupo de Convocados: Incluye recorrido por las diferentes estaciones del Metro y otras Implementación 1. METRO instalaciones del mismo. Dirección: Centro Empresarial del Lugar: Oficinas Metro de Caracas. Este, piso 5, al salir del ascensor cruzar izq. y luego izq. 18:00 Traslado Hotel Grupo de Implementación Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 10 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Jueves, 29 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
06:00 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE. Grupo de Implementación 06:20 Partida hacia Petare. Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: Salida desde el Ministerio de Relaciones (Punto de encuentro Implementación MPPRE: 1. Marisela González estacionamiento del Ministerio por la Av. Baralt, antes de Puente PDVSA: LLaguno. 1. Jesús Gómez Alcaldía Sucre: 1. Mirna Mendoza 2. 4 Funcionarios Alcaldía de Sucre. Alcaldía Mayor/INMETRA: 1. Rafael Argotty, Presidente INMETRA 2. Rosa Ocaña, Asesora INMETRA Alcaldía de Guarenas: 1. Ronald Maurera, Director de Transporte de la Alcaldía Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos: 1. María Quijada o Ambar
Nº total de personas que se trasladan desde el MRE hasta Petare en los vehículos: 05 Venezuela+ 02 GLA=07
En Petare se unirá el Dir. de Transporte de la Alcaldía de Guarenas, los (5) funcionarios de Alcaldía de Sucre y los (2) funcionarios de INMETRA.
Total:11 Venezuela + 2 GLA=13 Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 11 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Continuación: Jueves, 29 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
06:50 Arribo a la Av. Francisco de Miranda pista sur (Frente a la estación Grupo de del metro Petare; Gran Muro), de allí nos trasladamos a la Plaza Implementación las Madres (redoma de Petare), posteriormente se continúa el recorrido por la Av. Las Vegas de Petare, Estación Palo Verde. 09:30 Retorno: Avenida Las Vegas de Petare pista norte (estación de Grupo de metro Palo Verde; Calle El Cerrito, Av. Vía Mesuca, Calle El Implementación Carmen, Carretera Vieja Santa Lucia (bajada de Mesuca), Calle Federación. 10:00 Traslado a Guarenas. Grupo de Implementación 10:30 Arribo casco Central Guarenas y recorrido Sector “Las Clavellitas”. Grupo de Implementación 12:30 Regreso a Caracas MPPRE Grupo de Implementación 13:30 Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación
Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 12 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Continuación: Jueves, 29 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
14:30 Salida desde el Ministerio de Relaciones Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: Implementación MPPRE: (Punto de encuentro estacionamiento del Ministerio por la Av. 1. Zulima Rojas Baralt, antes de Puente LLaguno. PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Alcaldía Mayor/INMETRA: Vía autopista pasando por el puente Los Leones hasta llegar a la 1. Alexis Moros, Secretario Ejecutivo redoma de La India. 2. Ángel González, Dirección Asuntos Internacionales Alcaldía Libertador: 1. Yadira Páez, Directora de Transporte 2. Luis Laplace, Asesor Asuntos Internacionales Alcalde 3. Pedro García, Div. De Transporte 4. Edwin Urribarí, Div. De Transporte 5. Nicolás Delgado, Seguridad. Alcaldía de Guarenas: 1. Ronald Maurera, Director de Transporte de la Alcaldía Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos: 1. María Quijada o Ambar
Nº total de personas que se trasladan desde el MRE hasta La Vega en los vehículos: 07 Venezuela+ 01 GLA=08
La Alcaldía de Libertador informó que llevarían un vehículo de la institución. 15:30 1ra parada: 15. min. en la redoma de La India para observar la Grupo de estación de los transportes hacia las rutas troncales. Implementación Posteriormente se continúa el recorrido en los vehículos por la Av. Principal de La Vega. Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 13 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Continuación: Jueves, 29 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
16:00 2da. parada: 40 min. sector “Las Casitas”. Grupo de Visita al Módulo Barrio Adentro, intercambio con los vecinos. Implementación 16:40 Traslado La Vega MPPRE. Grupo de Implementación 18:00 Arribo MPPRE Grupo de Punto de llegada: estacionamiento del Ministerio por la Av. Baralt, Implementación antes de Puente LLaguno. 18:10 Traslado MPPRE-Hotel
Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 14 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
ANNELIESE MIDGLEY Jueves, 29 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
13:30 Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación 15:00 Reunión de Trabajo Grupo de Turismo. Grupo de Convocados: A.M Lugar: MPPRE Implementación 1. MINTUR 18:10 Traslado MPPRE – Hotel. Grupo de A.M Implementación
Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 15 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Viernes, 30 de marzo de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES
07:00 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE Grupo de Implementación 08:00 Reunión Grupo de Transporte. Grupo de Lugar: MPPRE Implementación 10:30 Reunión Grupo de Implementación. Grupo de Despacho Viceministro Europa, piso7. Implementación 11:45 Traslado Hotel Aeropuerto Grupo de Implementación 16:45 Partida Maiquetía-Londres Grupo de Vuelo AF0461 Implementación
Propuesta Programa de Actividades Delegación GLA. 28/03/07 08:30 16 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
VISITA DE TRABAJO FUNCIONARIOS ALCALDÍA DE LONDRES: SAM RICHARDS Y KEVIN AUSTIN 03 AL 08 DE JUNIO 2007
Agenda Propuesta
Domingo, 03 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
13:55 Arribo a Caracas Grupo de PDVSA asignará un vehículo Vehículo asignado a Traslado Maiquetía-Hotel. Implementación con conductor durante toda la disposición con visita a Venezuela de la conductor. delegación de GLA. Kevin Austin y Dave Adam arriban en el en el vuelo Air France Nº 0460 Hora: 14:25
Sam Richards: arriba en el vuelo Lufthansa Nº 534 14.30
16:30 Arribo al Hotel Gran Meliá Caracas. Grupo de Av. Casanova, Urb. Bello Monte. Implementación
Telf. Recepción 58-212-762.81.11 Fax: 58-212-762.37.37
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Lunes, 04 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:00 Partida hacia Petare. Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: Tickets de Metro e Implementación MPPRE: intérprete. 1. Marisela González Punto de encuentro: Hotel Gran PDVSA: Meliá, desde allí salida hasta la 1. Jesús Gómez Alcaldía Sucre: estación de Metro de Sabana Grande 1. Mirna Mendoza para tomar el Metro hasta Petare. Alcaldía Mayor/INMETRA: 1. Rosa Ocaña, Asesora INMETRA
Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos: 1. María Quijada ó Ambar Nº total de personas que participan en el recorrido por Petare: Total: 05 Venezuela + 2 GLA=07 08:30 Recorrido por Petare. Grupo de Intérprete
Implementación 09:30 Traslado desde Petare hasta la Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: Intérprete Implementación MPPRE: Rinconada se utilizara el Metro. 1. Marisela González PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Metro de Caracas: 1. Josmari Carrillo (se incorporará en la Rinconada) Enlaces Servicios Lingüisticos: 1. Maria Quijada ó Ámbar
Nº total de personas que se trasladan hasta La Rinconada: Total: 04 Venezuela + 2 GLA = 6 12:00 Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación
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Continuación Lunes, 04 de junio de 2007
13:30 Visita al Centro de Control de Tráfico Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: Interprete Implementación MPPRE: del Municipio Libertador 1 Zulima Rojas El punto de encuentro será PDVSA: el Despacho del Viceministro 1. Jesús Gómez El punto de encuentro será el de Relaciones Exteriores Alcaldía Libertador: para Europa, Torre MRE, 1. Robert Márquez Despacho del Viceministro de piso 7, ala B. 2. Glency Rojas
Relaciones Exteriores para Europa, 3. Luis Laplace Torre MRE, piso 7, ala B. 4. Yadira Páez Enlaces Servicios Lingüisticos: 1. Maria Quijada ó Ambar Duración aproximada visita: 30 min. Nº total de personas que harán el recorrido Total: 07 Venezuela + 2 GLA = 9 14:00 Recorrido por los corredores Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1 Vehiculo: La Alcaldía Implementación MPPRE: Libertador pondrá a planeados en “Bus CCS”. 1 Zulima Rojas disposición 2 vehículos 4x4. PDVSA: La Salida se efectuará 1. Jesús Gómez desde el Ministerio de Alcaldía Libertador: Relaciones Exteriores (Punto Duración aproximada del recorrido: 3 Hrs 1. Robert Márquez de Encuentro 2. Glency Rojas 3. Luis Laplace Estacionamiento del 4. Yadira Páez Ministerio- (portón de color Enlaces Servicios Lingüisticos: negro, por la Av. Baralt, 2. Maria Quijada ó Ambar antes del Puente Llaguno).
Nº total de personas que harán el recorrido 2. Interprete. Total: 07 Venezuela + 2 GLA = 9 18:00 Reunión Grupo de Implementación. Grupo de Interprete. Implementación Lugar: MPPRE 19:00 Traslado MRE-Hotel. Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor.
Versión 01/06/07 – 10:30 19 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Martes, 05 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor. 09:00 Reunión con las Instituciones Grupo de Se utilizará traducción simultánea. Equipo de traducción Implementación Convocados: simultánea para aprox. 10 Vinculadas con el tema de 1. Directores de Planificación de las personas (equipo portátil). Alcaldías. Planificación Urbana. 2. Instituto de Urbanismo Metropolitano. 3. Directores de Transporte Alcaldías 4. Directora de Planificación METRO de Lugar: Planta Baja Torre Ministerio CCS. del Poder Popular para Relaciones 5. Director Planificación IAFE. Exteriores, Salón Simón Bolívar. 6. Dirección de Planificación MINFRA
13:00 Almuerzo. Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor. 14:00 1ra Reunión Interinstitucional Grupo Grupo de Se utilizará traducción simultánea. Equipo de traducción Implementación Convocados: simultanea para aprox.22 de Transporte. 1. Ministerio del Poder Popular para la personas. Infraestructura; Lugar: Lugar: Planta Baja Torre 2. Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente; Ministerio del Poder Popular para 3. Gobernación de Miranda; Relaciones Exteriores, Salón Simón 4. Alcaldía Mayor Metropolitana; Bolívar. 5. Alcaldía del Municipio Libertador; 6. Alcaldía del Municipio Sucre; 7. Alcaldía de Vargas; 8. Alcaldía de Guarenas; 9. Alcaldía de Guatire; 10. Fundación Fondo Nacional de Transporte Urbano; 11. Instituto Nacional de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre; 12. C.A Metro de Caracas; 13. IAFE. 18:00 Traslado MRE-Hotel. Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor.
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Miércoles, 06 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado Hotel a San Agustín. Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: PDVSA pondrá a disposición Implementación MPPRE: 1 vans. 1 Marisela González PDVSA: Punto de Encuentro: Lobby 1. Jesús Gómez Hotel Gran Melia CCS. Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos: 3. Maria Quijada ó Ambar
Nº total de personas que harán el recorrido Total: 07 Venezuela + 2 GLA = 9 09:00 Recorrido por San Agustín, Proyecto Grupo de Instituciones convocadas PDVSA pondrá a disposición 1 vans. Implementación Metro de CCS. MetroCable. 1. Josmari Carrillo Interprete. Duración aproximada recorrido: 3 hrs. Alcaldía Libertador 1.xxxxxx 12:00 Visita al Terminal Urbano Río Tuy. Grupo de Instituciones convocadas Interprete. Implementación 1. INMETRA 2. INTTT 13:00 Almuerzo Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor. 14:30 Proyectos Corto Plazo: Recorridos Grupo de Convocados: PDVSA pondrá a disposición Implementación 1. INMETRA; 1 vans. por los corredores viales de la Av. 2. Directores de Transporte Alcaldías. Baralt, Av. Urdaneta y Francisco de Miranda.
16:30 Reunión con Mikel Menéndez, Grupo de Presidente Instituto Planificación Implementación Alcaldía Metropolitana 20:00 Traslado Hotel. Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor.
Versión 01/06/07 – 10:30 21 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Jueves, 07 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor. 09:00 Tiempo Reservado Grupo de Implementación 12:30 Traslado de Sam Richards y Dave Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Adam al Aeropuerto de Maiquetía. Implementación disposición con conductor. Sam Richards sale en el vuelo Air France, Nº 0461- 16:45 Hrs. Dave Adam sale en el vuelo Lufthansa, Nº 535 - 16.25 Hrs. 13:00 Kevin Austin: Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación 14:30 Reunión de Kevin Austin con el Grupo de Convocados: Equipo de traducción Director del Despacho de MINFRA y Implementación 1. Ministerio del Poder Popular simultánea para aprox. 08 personas, (equipo representantes de FONTUR para la Infraestructura portátil). 2. Fundación Fondo Nacional Lugar: MINFRA. de Transporte Urbano. 18:00 Traslado Hotel. Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor.
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Viernes, 08 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor. 09:00 2da reunión Interinstitucional con Grupo de Se utilizara traducción simultánea. Equipo de traducción Grupo de Transporte Implementación Convocados: simultánea para aprox. 1. Ministerio del Poder Popular para 22 personas. la Infraestructura; Lugar: MPPRE, Salón Las Américas. 2. Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente; 3. Gobernación de Miranda; 4. Alcaldía Mayor Metropolitana; 5. Alcaldía del Municipio Libertador; 6. Alcaldía del Municipio Sucre; 7. Alcaldía de Vargas; 8. Alcaldía de Guarenas; 9. Alcaldía de Guatire; 10. Fundación Fondo Nacional de Transporte Urbano; 11. Instituto Nacional de Transito y Transporte Terrestre; 12. C.A. Metro de Caracas; 13. IAFE. 11:30 Reunión con el Grupo de Grupo de Equipo de traducción Implementación. Implementación simultánea para seis personas, (equipo Lugar: MPPRE. portátil). 12:30 Traslado al aeropuerto de Maiquetía Grupo de Vehículo asignado a Implementación disposición con conductor. 04:45 Vuelo CCS-LHR GLA Vuelo: Air France 0461- Hora: 16:45
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Versión 01/06/07 – 10:30 24 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
VISITA DE TRABAJO FUNCIONARIOS ALCALDÍA DE LONDRES: PETER HENDY, SAM RICHARDS Y KEVIN AUSTIN. 20 AL 24 DE JUNIO 2007
Agenda Propuesta
Miércoles, 20 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
13:55 Arribo a Caracas de Peter Hendy, Grupo de PDVSA asignará un vehículo Arriban en el en el Sam Richards y Kevin Austin. Implementación con conductor durante toda la vuelo Nº AF 460 Traslado Maiquetía-Hotel Melia. visita a Venezuela de la Hora: 13:55 Tlf:762.81.11 delegación de GLA.
16:30 Arribo al Hotel. Grupo de Implementación
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Jueves, 21 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
06:30 Partida hacia Petare. Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: Punto de encuentro: Hotel, Implementación 1. MPPRE: Marisela González Melia Caracas desde allí 2. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez salida hasta la estación de Alcaldía Sucre: Metro para tomar el Metro 1. Mirna Mendoza hasta Petare. Participantes GLA 1. Peter Hendy (GLA Head of Transport); 1. Tkts. de Metro 2. Sam Richards (Tfl Shief of Staff); 2. Interprete. 3. Kevin Austin (Head of Transport); 4. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor); 5. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing); 6. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture).
07:00 Recorrido por Petare. (Terminal de Grupo de Participantes Venezuela 1. Interprete autobús, redoma, caminata hasta la Implementación 1. Alcaldía de Sucre 2. INMETRA estación de Metro Palo Verde). 3. MPPRE: Marisela González 4. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 5. Interprete Participantes GLA 1. Peter Hendy (GLA Head of Transport); 2. Sam Richards (Tfl Shief of Staff); 3. Kevin Austin (Head of Transport); 4. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor); 5. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing); 6. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture). 09:25 Traslado hasta la Urb. La California Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Interprete para visitar los proyectos relacionados Implementación 1. INMETRA 2. Vans de 12 puestos. 2. MPPRE: Marisela González con el cruce de peatones. 3. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 4. Interprete Participantes GLA 1. Peter Hendy; 2. Sam Richards; 3. Kevin Austin 4. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor Cultural Strategy)
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5. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) 6. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture)
Continuación: Jueves, 21 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
10:00 Parada en la Urb. La California para Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: visitar los proyectos relacionados con Implementación 1. INMETRA 2. MPPRE: Marisela González el cruce de peatones. 3. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 4. Interprete 10:30 Reunión en el Ministerio del Poder Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Interprete. Equipo de Popular para el Ambiente. Implementación 1. Carlos Dávila traducción portátil para 2. Zulima Rojas personas. 3. Interprete. Participantes GLA 1. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor Cultural Strategy). 2. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture). 10:30 Traslado a San Agustín Proyecto Grupo de Participantes GLA 2. Interprete Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; 3. Vans de 12 puestos. Metro Cable. 2. Sam Richards; 3. Kevin Austin Participantes Venezuela: 1. INMETRA 2. MPPRE: Marisela González 3. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 4. Interprete 11:00 Recorrido por ruta del Proyecto Metro Grupo de Participantes GLA 2. 2 Vans. Implementación 4. Peter Hendy; 3. Interprete. Cable. 1. Sam Richards; 2. Kevin Austin Participantes Venezuela MPPRE: 12. Marisela González PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Metro de CCS. 1. Fatima Goncalves
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12:30 Almuerzo. Grupo de Implementación 14:00 Recorrido corredores propuestos en el Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Vans de 12 puestos. proyecto “Bus Caracas”. Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; Punto de Encuentro: 2. Sam Richards; Estacionamiento Av. 3. Kevin Austin Baralt del MPPRE. 4. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor Cultural Strategy) 2. Interprete 5. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) 6. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture Participantes Venezuela: MPPRE: 1. Zulima Rojas PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Alcaldía Libertador: 1. Robert Márquez 2. Glency Rojas 3. Luis Laplace 4. Yadira Páez Enlaces Servicios Lingüisticos: 1. Interprete. Nº total de personas que harán el recorrido Total: 07 Venezuela + 3 GLA = 10 16:00 Visita al Centro de Control de Tráfico Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Interprete Implementación 7. Peter Hendy; del Municipio Libertador. 1. Sam Richards; 2. Kevin Austin 3. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor Cultural Strategy) 4. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) 5. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture Participantes Venezuela: MPPRE: 1 Zulima Rojas PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Alcaldía Libertador: 1. Robert Márquez 2. Glency Rojas 3. Luis Laplace 4. Yadira Páez Enlaces Servicios Lingüisticos: 1. Interprete.
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17:00 Traslado al Hotel Melia. Grupo de Se utilizará Metro desde la Implementación estación Teatros hasta la estación de Metro de Sabana Grande. 17:40 Tiempo reservado GLA 19:00 Traslado hasta la residencia de la Grupo de Vehículo asignado con conductor. Sr. Simón Pérez Embajadora Catherine Royle. Implementación 19:30 Recepción con motivo del Grupo de Cumpleaños de la Reina Elizabeth II. Implementación 21:30 Traslado al Hotel Melia. Vehículo asignado con conductor. Sr. Simón Pérez
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Viernes, 22 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado Hotel-MPPRE. Se utilizará Metro para el traslado. 09:00 Reunión Interinstitucional Grupo de Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Equipo de traducción Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; simultánea. Transporte y Planificación Urbana. 2. Sam Richards; 3. Kevin Austin 6. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Puntos a tratar: Advisor Cultural Strategy) 1. Exposición de los Planes de 7. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) ordenamiento urbanístico 8. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business 2. Exposición Planes Integrados de Manager - Culture Participantes Venezuela Transporte. Convocados: Directores y/o Presidentes de Transporte y Planificación de las siguientes Cada institución cuenta con aprox. instituciones. 1. Ministerio del Poder Popular para la 10-15 min. Infraestructura; 2. Fundación Fondo Nacional de Transporte Urbano; Lugar: Salón Comedor, Casa 3. Instituto Nacional de Tránsito y Amarilla- Ministerio del Poder Popular Transporte Terrestre; para Relaciones Exteriores. 4. C.A Metro de Caracas; 5. IAFE. 6. Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente; (Dir. Gral. de Calidad Ambiental) 7. Gobernación de Miranda; 8. Instituto Metropolitano de Transporte; 9. Instituto Metropolitano de Urbanismo “Taller Caracas”; 10. Alcaldía del Municipio Libertador; 11. Alcaldía del Municipio Sucre; 12. Alcaldía de Vargas; 13. Alcaldía de Guarenas; 14. Alcaldía de Guatire; 13:00 Almuerzo. Grupo de Participantes Venezuela Implementación Se invitará a todos los asistentes que Lugar: Salón Comedor, Casa Amarilla participaron en la reunión interinstitucional MPPRE. del Grupo de Transporte y Planificación
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Urbana en horas de la mañana.
14:30 Recorrido por corredores viales Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Interprete. Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; 2. El recorrido se incluidos en los proyectos a corto 2. Sam Richards; efectuara caminando. 3. Kevin Austin plazo: Avenidas Baralt y Urdaneta. Participantes Venezuela MPPRE: Lugar: MPPRE 1 Zulima Rojas PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez INMETRA. Directores de Transporte Alcaldías. Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos.
Continuación: Viernes, 22 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
15:00 Traslado hasta la Rinconada para Participantes Venezuela: 1. Interprete. MPPRE: visitar el Módulo del Sistema de 1. Zulima Rojas Orquestas Juveniles de Venezuela. Participantes GLA 1. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor Cultural Strategy) 2. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) 3. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture) 15:00 Visita Terminal Río Tuy. Grupo de Participantes GLA 2. Interprete Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; 2. Sam Richards; 3. Kevin Austin
Participantes Venezuela MPPRE: 1 Marisela González PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez INMETRA. 16:00 Traslado hasta la Rinconada Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Interprete Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; 2. El traslado desde el 2. Sam Richards; Terminal Río Tuy hasta 3. Kevin Austin la Rinconada se Participantes Venezuela: efectuará en Metro. MPPRE: Versión 19/06/07 – 16:30 31 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
1. Marisela González PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos: Maria Quijada ó Ámbar 16:50 Arribo estación de transferencia Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Interprete Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; METRO-IAFE. 2. Sam Richards; 3. Kevin Austin
Participantes Venezuela: MPPRE: 1. Marisela González PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos: Maria Quijada ó Ámbar 17:00 Recorrido por la estación de Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Interprete Implementación 1. Peter Hendy; transferencia METRO-IAFE y 2. Sam Richards; 3. Kevin Austin presentación del Metro sobre Planes 4. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy de Expansión. Advisor Cultural Strategy) 5. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) 6. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture
Participantes Venezuela: MPPRE: 2. Zulima Rojas 3. Marisela González PDVSA: 1. Jesús Gómez Metro de Caracas: 1. Josmari Carrillo (se incorporará en la Rinconada) Enlaces Servicios Lingüísticos: 1. Maria Quijada ó Ámbar 18:00 Traslado al Hotel. Grupo de Implementación
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Sábado, 23 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
09:00 Traslado Hotel hasta Guarenas. Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. Vans de 12 puestos. Implementación 7. Peter Hendy; Punto de encuentro: 1. Sam Richards; Metro de Palo Verde. 2. Kevin Austin 2. Interprete 3. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor Cultural Strategy) 4. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) 5. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture
Participantes Venezuela: 1. INMETRA 2. MPPRE: Marisela González 3. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 4. Interprete. 09:30 Recorrido por Guarenas. (visita al Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Vans de 12 puestos. Terminal) Implementación 1. Director de Transporte Alcaldía de 2. Interprete. Guarenas, Ing. Ronald Maurera 2. INMETRA 3. MPPRE: Marisela González 4. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 5. Interprete 10:30 Partida hacia Guatire. Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Vans de 12 puestos. Implementación 1. MPPRE, Carlos Dávila 2. Interprete. 2. Marisela González 3. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 4. Interprete 11:00 Arribo a Guatire. Grupo de Implementación 11:30 Recorrido por Guatire (visita al Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Vans de 12 puestos. Terminal). Implementación 1. Director de Transporte Alcaldía de 2. Interprete. Guatire, Henry Colmenares 2. INMETRA 3. MPPRE: Marisela González 4. PDVSA: Jesús Gómez 5. Interprete 12:30 Regreso a Caracas. Grupo de Implementación 13:00 Almuerzo. Grupo de Implementación Versión 19/06/07 – 16:30 33 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
13:00 Traslado de Kevin Austin al Grupo de Vehículo asignado con Implementación conductor. Aeropuerto. Salida en el vuelo Nº AF461, - 16:45 Hrs. Sr. Simón Pérez
Continuación: Sábado, 23 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
15:30 Traslado Hotel. Grupo de 1. 1 Vans Implementación 2. Interprete. 14:30 Tiempo Reservado.
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Domingo, 24 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
13:00 Traslado de Peter Hendy, Sam Vehículo asignado a disposición con conductor. Richards y Dam Hodges al Peter Hendy: Salida en el Aeropuerto. vuelo Nº IB6700, - 17:10 Hrs. Sam Richards: Por Confirmar.
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Lunes, 25 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
13:00 Traslado de Judith Woodward, Joy Vehículo asignado a Johnson y Anneliese Midgely al disposición con conductor,(Sr. Simón Pérez). Aeropuerto. Salida en el vuelo AF.
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VISITA DE TRABAJO FUNCIONARIOS ALCALDÍA DE LONDRES: Judith Woodward, Joy Jonson y Anneliese Midgely. 20 AL 24 DE JUNIO 2007
Miércoles, 20 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
09:30 Reunión Interinstitucional Grupo de Grupo de Participantes Venezuela 1. Traslado desde el Hotel Comunicación e Información. Implementación 1. Carlos Dávila, Director de Cooperación Hilton al Ministerio de Integral, DVME Relaciones Exteriores. 2. Endrina Yépez, Directora de Gestión Lugar: Ministerio del Poder Popular Estratégica y Seguimiento de Políticas 2. Equipo de traducción para Relaciones Exteriores, Piso 7, Pública MPPINCI. Simultánea Portátil para 3. Luis Alfredo Gómez, Director 8 personas. Despacho del Viceministro de Corporativo MPPRE. Relaciones Exteriores para Europa. 4. Gustavo González, Comunicaciones Internacionales PDVSA . Participantes GLA 1. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor. 2. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) 3. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture) 11:30 Reunión con Director de Cultura y Grupo de Participantes GLA Implementación 1. Judith Woodward (GLA - Senior Policy Solidaridad Despacho del Advisor to the Mayor. Viceministro para Europa, Luis 2. Joy Johnson (GLA - Director of Media and Marketing) Delgado. 3. Anneliese Midgely (GLA - Business Manager - Culture)
13:00 Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación
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Versión 19/06/07 – 14:30 38 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
VISITA DE TRABAJO DELEGACIÓN DE AMBIENTE FUNCIONARIOS ALCALDÍA DE LONDRES 09 AL 13 DE SEPTIEMBRE 2007
Agenda Propuesta
Domingo, 09 de septiembre de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
13:55 Arribo a Caracas de: Grupo de PDVSA asignará un vehículo Arriban en el en el Implementación con conductor durante toda la vuelo Nº AF 460 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor visita a Venezuela de la Hora: 13:55 on Transport, Air Quality and delegación de GLA. Energy; 2. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport; Conductores 3. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of asignados: Environment; 4. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Sr. Simón Pérez, Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change. Sr. Angel Moreno
Traslado Maiquetía-Hotel Melia. Tlf:762.81.11 16:30 Arribo al Hotel. Grupo de Implementación
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Lunes, 10 de septiembre de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado Hotel Melia – Campamento Grupo de Para la reunión en el Campamento Los 1 de los vehículos Los Venados. Implementación Venados, PDVSA dispuso de 4 (cuatro) rústicos buscará a la vehículos rústicos, c/u con capacidad delegación de GLA en el máxima para 9 personas. Hotel Melia para trasladarlos directo al
Campamento Los Venados. 08:30 Partida funcionarios instituciones Grupo de 1. Punto de Encuentro venezolanas hacia el Campamento Implementación para la salida hacia el Campamento Los Los Venados Venados: sede de IMPARQUES.
2. 3 Vehículos 4x4 para transportar a 25 personas.
3. Interprete con equipo de traducción simultánea para 30 personas.
09:30 Arribo al Campamento Los Venados, Grupo de Parque Nacional el Ávila. Implementación 09:45 Inicio Reunión Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: Implementación 1. Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores/Despacho Europa; 2. PDVSA 3. Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente. 4. IMPARQUES. 5. Corporaciones/Direcciones de Servicios Municipales de las Alcaldías de la Gran Caracas. (Ver listado participantes en Anexo)
Participantes GLA Versión 11/09/07 – 10:30 40 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
1. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport; 2. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on Transport, Air Quality and Energy; 3. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of Environment; 4. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change. 13:00 Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación/ IMPARQUES 14:30 Conclusiones Reunión Grupo de Implementación 16:30 Traslado a Caracas Grupo de Implementación 17:30 Arribo a Caracas Grupo de 1 de los vehículos rústicos Implementación trasladará a la Delegación de GLA al Hotel Melia Caracas.
Los otros 4 vehículos rústicos trasladarán a los participantes por Venezuela a la sede de IMPARQUES. 19:00 Reunión de Mark Watts y Kevin Austin Grupo de Participantes GLA Implementación 1. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport; con el Director General del Despacho, 2. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on Transport, Air Quality and Energy; Temir Porras. Lugar: MPPRE Participantes Venezuela 1. Temir Porras Ponceleón, Shief of Staff MPPRE 2. Ginette González, Europe ViceMinistry Shief of Staff 3. Marisela González, MPPRE
Versión 11/09/07 – 10:30 41 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Martes 11 de septiembre de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado desde el Hotel Melia al Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Vehículo Asignado a Implementación Núcleo de Desarrollo Endógeno Ministerio del Poder Popular para disposición con Relaciones Exteriores conductor. Fabricio Ojeda. 1. Oramaica Espinoza, 2. Interprete
Participantes GLA Punto de encuentro para 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor los funcionarios on Transport, Air Quality and venezolanos y la Energy; interprete: Hotel Melia 2. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of Environment; 3. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change 4. Kevin Austin. 13:00 Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación 14:30 Visita de Shirley Rodrigues, Grupo de Punto de salida hacia la Guaira: 1. Vehículo Asignado a Implementación Coordinadora de Ambiente y Andy MPPRE. disposición con conductor. Sr. Angel Deacon, Gerente de Estrategias de El punto de encuentro en Vargas será Moreno. Calidad del Aire, Energía y Cambio en la Corporación de Servicios Climático de la Alcaldía de Londres Municipales. 2. Interprete. Beatriz: Calle los Cocoteros, frente al Centro comercial Litoral. Recorrido por el municipio Vargas y las rutas de recolección de desechos Contacto en el Estado Vargas: Sr. así como al vertedero de Santa Pablo Márquez, Jefe de Operaciones de la Corporación de Servicios Eduvigis, Edo. Vargas Municipales.
17:30 Traslado desde el Estado Vargas al Grupo de 1. Vehículo Asignado a Implementación disposición con Hotel Meliá Caracas de Shirley conductor. Sr. Angel Rodrigues, y Andy Deacon. Moreno.
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14:30 Reunión de Mark Watts y Kevin Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Interprete con equipo Implementación Austin con la delegación venezolana Alcaldía Libertador de traducción 1. Gonzalo Tovar, Asesor Alcaldía – simultánea para 15 que viaja a Londres en septiembre vinculado con el proyecto Bus personas. 2007. Caracas.
2. Coromoto Mirabal, Jefa de Lugar: Auditórium, Instituto de Altos División de Ingeniería y Vialidad. Estudios Diplomáticos Pedro Gual. 3. Luis Laplace, Asesor Asuntos Internacionales del Alcalde. Alcaldía Mayor 1. Rafael Argotty, Presidente INMETRA. 2. Alexis Moros, Coordinador General de Transporte INMETRA. 3. Rosa Ocaña, Asesora Técnica INMETRA. 4. Nestor López, Asesor Dirección de de Cooperación Internacional. MPPINFRA 1. Mercedes Sánchez, Directora General de Planificación Estratégica de Transporte. 2. Maribel Chellini, Directora General de Planificación y Regulación de Obras Publicas y Desarrollo Urbano .
Participante GLA: 1. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport 2. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on Transport, Air Quality and Energy
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Agenda Mañana del Miércoles, 12 de septiembre de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado desde el Hotel Melia a la Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Vehículo Asignado a Implementación Ministerio del Poder Popular para el disposición con urbanización Los Ruices para ver uno Ambiente/ Dirección de Calidad conductor. Sres. Simón de los puntos de medición de gases Ambiental Pérez, y Angel contaminantes. 1. Nadia Guadarjo, Moreno 2. Interprete Participantes GLA Lugar: Edf. Roche, Los Ruices. 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on Punto de encuentro para los Transport, Air Quality and Energy; funcionarios venezolanos y 2. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of la intérprete: Hotel Melia. Environment; 3. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change 09:00 Arribo Estación de Medición Los Grupo de Implementación Ruices. 10:30 Traslado hacia San Agustín. Grupo de Participantes Venezuela: 1. Vehículo Asignado a Implementación Ministerio del Poder Popular para el disposición con Ambiente/ Dirección de Calidad conductor. Sres. Simón Ambiental Pérez, , y Angel 1. María Gabriela Landaeta Moreno 2. Interprete Participantes GLA 1. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of Environment; 2. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change 11:30 Arribo a San Agustín e inicio recorrido Grupo de Participantes GLA Implementación 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on ruta de recolección. Transport, Air Quality and Energy; 2. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of Environment; 3. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change 4. Kevin Austin. 13:00 Fin del Recorrido y traslado al Grupo de Implementación Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 13:30 Almuerzo Grupo de Implementación
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Agenda Mark Watts y Kevin Austin Mañana del Miércoles, 12 de septiembre de 2007
08:30 Traslado de Mark Watts y Kevin Grupo de Participantes GLA 1. El traslado se efectuará Implementación 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on en METRO. Austin hacia Parque Central. Transport, Air Quality and Energy; 2. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport Punto de encuentro para los Lugar: Av Edf. Roche, Los Ruices funcionarios venezolanos Hotel Melia. 09:00 Entrevista de Mark Watts y Kevin Grupo de Participantes GLA Implementación 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on Austin con el Sr. Rodrigo Guerrero Transport, Air Quality and Energy; del Sistema de orquestas Juveniles e 2. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport
Infantiles de Venezuela. Participantes Venezuela 1. Rodrigo Guerrero, Sistema de Orquestas Lugar: Parque Central, Nivel Bolívar, 2. Álvaro Sánchez, MPPRE sede Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil. 3. Marisela González, MPPRE
Versión 11/09/07 – 10:30 45 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
Agenda tarde del Miércoles, 12 de septiembre de 2007
14:45 Ruta con funcionarios de Grupo de 1. Vehículo Asignado a Implementación Participantes GLA disposición con IMPARQUES. 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on conductor. Sres. Simón Transport, Air Quality and Energy; Pérez, y Angel Punto de encuentro: Ministerio del 2. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of Moreno Environment; 2. Interprete Poder Popular para Relaciones 3. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change Exteriores. 4. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport Parque del Oeste, Parque del Este y Parque Los Chorros. 19:00 Reunión Grupo de Implementación Participantes Venezuela: 3. 1. Ysrael Wever, PDVSA 2. Jesús Gómez, PDVSA 3. Álvaro Sánchez, MPPRE 4. Marisela González, MPPRE
Participantes GLA 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on Transport, Air Quality and Energy; 2. Kevin Austin
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Jueves, 13 de junio de 2007
HORAS ACTIVIDAD RESPONSABLE OBSERVACIONES LOGÍSTICA
08:30 Traslado desde el Hotel Melia a Grupo de 1. Vehículos asignados a Implementación disposición con PDVSA conductores. Sres. Simón Pérez, , y Angel Moreno
09:00 Reunión de Trabajo con Ricardo Grupo de Participantes GLA Implementación 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor on Menéndez, sobre la Nueva Geometría Transport, Air Quality and Energy; del Poder. 2. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of Environment; Lugar. PDVSA 3. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change 4. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport
Participantes Venezuela: 1. Jesús Gómez, PDVSA 2. Álvaro Sánchez, MPPRE 3. Marisela González, MPPRE 4. Ricardo Menedez 12:00 Traslado al aeropuerto de: Grupo de 1. Vehículos asignados a Implementación 1. Mark Watts, Senior Policy Advisor disposición con conductores. Sres. on Transport, Air Quality and Simón Pérez, , y Energy; Angel Moreno 2. Kevin Austin, Head of Transport; Salida en el vuelo Nº AF 0461 - 16:45 Hrs. 3. Shirley Rodrigues, Head of Environment; 4. Andy Deacon, Strategy Manager Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change.
Versión 11/09/07 – 10:30 47 GLA Information: Annex A – Itineraries for Visits to Venezuela
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Versión 11/09/07 – 10:30 48 GLA Information: Annex B - GLA Paper Produced following Trip of March
Areas of Co-operation in Transport between London and Venezuela
1. Background
1.1 I visited Venezuela on 25-31 March 2007, as Head of Transport for the Greater London Authority (GLA), together with Anneliese Midgley, Business Manager in the Mayor’s Office.
1.2 During the visit I had the opportunity to view a number of transport projects and meet with transport experts. This report summarises my provisional conclusions from the trip with regard to the possible areas of co-operation within the framework of the London – Venezuela Agreement.
1.3 On 30 March, a transport meeting was convened at PDVSA. The meeting was attended by high- level representation of the transport organizations.
1.4 The object of the meeting was to give a report to the transport bodies areas in which London could assist through expertise and advice in transport projects. The conclusions were drawn from the transport meetings and visits, which we had participated in during that week.
1.5 This document is a summary of the issues raised and the specific areas in which the Greater London Authority and Transport for London could work together with their counterpart organisations in Venezuela. The areas of interest are:
• Legal and institutional • Public Transport • Highways and Traffic
1.6 These work areas will be refined following the visit of Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London in June. During and following the visit London and Venezuela will work together to identify the priority areas for advice and the details of each specific area of co-operation.
2. Legal and Institutional
Issues
• The need for greater coordination between the bodies and organizations responsible for transport and planning. • The need to develop a common methodology and transport models when developing or delivering city schemes. • The need for a common mechanism is in place to assess or prioritise city-wide transport projects. • The need to establish region-wide land use planning to assist with the development of long-term transport planning. • There is a need to provide a co-ordinated approach towards taking forward implementation of the infrastructure programme.
49
Areas of Co-operation
2.1 Co-operation on Long Term Transport Plan
2.1.1 At present, the Metropolitan Committee of Transportation is to discuss issues common to Metropolitan District of Caracas (DMC) and the municipalities. This is an important function but is not enough.
2.1.2 Coordination between all the major strategic transport organisations is essential to develop and plan the future transport requirements across the wider Caracas area. This should include, but not be limited to: MINFRA; FONTUR; CAMETRO; INMETRA; and INVITRAMI. London could work with these organisations to:
• Advise on future levels and distribution of land use, population and employment (see point 3 below) • Advise on the baseline transport situation • Advise on developing a single transport model to reflect the current transport conditions in Caracas and be able to model future conditions • Advise on developing an agreed methodology to assess the business case of transport proposals to ensure that the highest priority schemes are taken forward • Advise on developing a 20 year plan to take account of transport issues. • Advise on a funding plan to deliver a 20 year transport strategy
2.1.3 The aim is to provide a coherent approach across all organisations. Interaction between modes of travel – surface transport, underground, public and private will be significantly improved and integrated. Other bodies, such as the municipalities will be able to feed their project proposals into this process and use the model to test alternative schemes they put forward for funding. The intended result being an integrated transport delivery plan.
2.2 Developing an investment and delivery plan
2.2.1 Transport for London is currently implementing a US$25bn five year capital investment programme and has established techniques to ensure that the schemes are delivered in the most cost effective and efficient way. London would work with organisations in Venezuela to advise on an appropriate, cost effective and efficient delivery process for the implementation of their infrastructure programme.
2.3 Land Use Planning
2.3.1 It is essential that a greater degree of planning is undertaken with regard to the longer term urban development of Greater Caracas, particularly the development and integration of the barrios. This work must inform all the other areas, particularly transport, environment and waste. Any integrated land use plan needs to consider the wider region. Many of the largest developments in the future will almost certainly be located outside the city of Caracas. London would work with the appropriate regional and national organisations to agree priorities for urban planning and assist in the development of a flexible spatial strategy for the wider region.
2.3.2 The location of major housing developments in areas with poor provision of public transport encourages car use, which leads to increased traffic and congestion. Setting limits to housing density on the basis of access to public transport can assist in limiting traffic growth. London
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would work with organisations in Venezuela to develop planning guidelines to relate to the size and density of permitted housing development to public transport accessibility.
2.3.3 Planning of major commercial developments needs to consider access by public transport. A strategic land use plan should set out areas where future commercial development is permitted and the transport improvements that are required for this to be realised.
3. Public transport:
Issues
• Travel by Metro is cheaper, quicker and more reliable than bus. The Metro is very efficient. Over certain sections, capacity is exceeded, particularly at peak times. Measures need to be implemented to relieve this situation. • There are no bus priority schemes in Caracas, although one scheme (BusCaracas) will soon begin construction. Others (eg Caracas Insurgente) are in the feasibility stage. At present, buses are slower than cars. The cost of petrol is very low giving little incentive to use the bus. • Co-ordination between the metro system and the bus network is limited. The Metro run bus company - Metrobus provides an efficient feeder system for the Metro, local bus companies do the same in Los Teques. • Interchange between public transport modes is insufficient. There is a growing informal transport sector, e.g. mototaxis, making it difficult to provide a regulated environment for transfer between modes. At Petare, the volume of people and vehicles requiring access to the area leads to chaos and safety problems. • Most of the bus fleet is managed by small firms or owner-drivers. The fleets are unregulated, run overlapping routes, and are not integrated. • There are few formal bus stops, which reduces efficiency of the bus services and has a great impact on traffic. • The surface transport fleet is on average very old, 40% of buses are over 20 years old, with the remainder less than 10 years old. For minibuses 30% are over 20 years old, 45% between 10 and 20 years old and the remainder built less than 10 years ago. There are no periodic technical reviews meaning that a number of the vehicles are in a poor or dangerous state of repair. Most also lack the technology to control the emission of pollutants. • No body assumes overall responsibility for the different public transport systems. There is no integrated fare system on surface transport therefore people required to make several changes pay more. Those with the lowest income tend to live furthest away from the City centre and are affected by this most. • The barrios have limited access by road, which becomes highly congested at peak times. Many people have to walk a considerable distance from the top of the Barrios to the point of interchange with the main public transport system. • There could be potential improvements to assist the taxi sector. Furthermore, issues have arisen surrounding the rapid expansion of mototaxi services. • The surface public transport system is not considered to be as safe as the Metro as a means of transport for both passengers and drivers alike. • There are significant opportunities to improve the level of reassurance and safety on the public transport network through improved policing. Furthermore, there is a need for a greater level of enforcement of the traffic system.
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Areas of Co-operation
3.1 Deliver Expansion to public transport network
3.1.1 The Metro has demonstrated that a fast, reliable, safe and high quality public transport system is well used and is a suitable alternative to bus and car. The success of Line 1 is clear, but this has led to high levels of overcrowding. Line 1 is at capacity, and the Metro are undertaking feasibility and design work on a number of proposed enhancements, including parallel services to Line 1. This will take a number of years to implement. Improvements to the public transport system on this corridor need to be in place much more quickly.
3.1.2 The rapid development of segregated bus priority schemes is the best way to do this. INMETRA is developing Caracas Insurgente, which will provide a trunk route across the city from East to West. This could be expanded in the future to include a range of other routes from the wider area utilising part of the trunk route. The scheme is at an early stage of development and London would work with the relevant authorities to develop this scheme.
3.1.3 We have been provided with detailed plans and a detailed description of the BusCaracas scheme and are currently reviewing the designs. We have had preliminary discussions on the details of the scheme with Libertador Municipality and will advise on the implementation this project.
3.1.4 Urgent consideration needs to be given to the strategic development of bus schemes throughout the city over the next decade. London would advise on the selection and development of other bus priority projects, utilising experience that has been gained from extensive implementation in London.
3.1.5 Bus lanes need to be kept free from obstructions and other vehicles from entering them. Traffic police are the responsibility of the Municipalitie and it will be necessary to develop processes to ensure consistent and effective levels of enforcement across the city. London would work with the relevant authorities in Venezuela to provide advice on these improvements as part of these schemes.
3.2 Integration of Bus and Metro
3.2.1 There is great potential to improve the integration of the bus and Metro system. Metrobus delivers a high quality bus service with integrated ticketing. Furthermore, the Metro has implemented a similar arrangement at Los Teques utilising existing bus operators. These operators have been given grants to upgrade their bus fleets and the Metro has provided training for drivers and assistance to the operators. This principle can be extended. London would work with relevant organisations to advise on the feeder routes that would deliver the greatest passenger benefits and to provide assistance on service specifications for the operators involved.
3.3 Improvements to Interchanges
3.3.1 Most of the organisations stated that there was an urgent need to improve public transport interchanges. Petare was highlighted as a particular problem, which was evident from the site visit undertaken. London would work with the relevant organisations to advise on an interchange scheme at this location. Any design will need to be integrated with Caracas Insurgente and schemes that link with the barrio, and road network changes will be required to reduce the conflict between pedestrians and vehicles.
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3.3.2 A number of other terminals have been identified as requiring action as stated in “Proyecto Aire Limpio”. London will work with the relevant organisations to advise on a prioritised a city-wide interchange plan. This will ensure that those locations in greatest need of remediation are prioritised.
3.4 Improvement of surface public transport system
3.4.1 Change in the structure of the surface public transport system is long-term and requires the transport organisations to work closely with operators to deliver improvements in the quality and reliability of service. In London, TfL give financial incentives to those bus fleets that surpass set standards of reliability or quality of fleet. London would work with relevant organisations to investigate ways to improve the management of the surface public transport system.
3.4.2 As the system becomes more regulated with a greater number of timetabled services then the provision of good information on services and potential delays becomes more important. The high quality routes that are being implemented (BusCaracas) will include better information on services offered and this should be included on all new schemes as standard. Transport for London is currently implementing a system (iBus), which upgrades the existing bus location and information system to provide a more accurate assessment of bus location and enables information to be disseminated more widely, e.g. via internet, mobile phone etc. London would work with relevant organisations to advise on improving the quality of information on transport services, and in particular, real time information on buses.
3.5 Fares
3.5.1 For public transport user price is an important consideration in the selection of mode and route taken. Fares are paid for each leg of the journey, so people often do not take advantage of the quickest journey. London would work with relevant organisations, such as Universidad Simón Bolivar, to better understand the trips made by people in Caracas and the costs associated with the trips they make. This will help understand the magnitude of the situation and the potential improvement. London would then advise on a review of the fares structure for the city with a view to developing a more rational and integrated fares structure to encourage the most efficient use of the city’s transport assets.
3.5.2 Low petrol prices and low running costs for private vehicles encourage the use of private transport over public transport. London would work with relevant organisations to better understand the relationship between the factors that are involved in the choice of mode, in particular the costs of motoring and public transport. This will help identify whether other potential interventions could be successful to encourage a shift from car to public transport.
3.6 Access to the Barrios
3.6.1 Consideration has been given to the use of cable cars to improve access for those living higher up in the Barrios. Particular locations that have been identified are Petare, El Valle and San Agustin. London would work with the relevant organisations to provide advice to assess the appropriateness of this particular solution as well as other options to improve access to and from the barrios. The review should consider: an assessment and prioritisation of the locations where improvements are required; the routes to the main interchanges; and, an assessment of the best options in each case, including: • Demand for services • capacity of the infrastructure
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• cost of implementation and operating cost • mechanical reliability • geological conditions relating to construction of fixed infrastructure
3.7 Taxis and Mototaxis
3.7.1 There was only discussion on the role of taxis as part of public transport services in the city. They revolved around the rapid increase in mototaxis. We would welcome further discussions to fully understand the current regulatory regime for taxis, the limitations that arise and any potential collaborative work.
3.8 Safety
3.8.1 In the development of new bus schemes, passenger and driver safety is a central feature. London will advise Libertador and other relevant organisations on the implementation of specific safety measures, including:
• CCTV on buses • CCTV at major stops and interchanges • Help points at interchanges • Communications systems to allow the driver to call for assistance
3.9 Policing and Enforcement of Transport Network
3.9.1There is a need for better integration between transport and policing in order to improve the safety and reliability of the transport network and to deliver improved community reassurance. London will advise the relevant authorities in the following areas: • Safety at public transport interchanges • Safety on public transport itself • Enforcement of traffic regulations • Enforcement to ensure that the road network operates efficiently
4. Highways and Traffic
Issues
• There is limited connectivity in the highway network of Caracas. The main issues are as follows: o In order to travel by car from one side of the country to the other it is necessary to go through the centre of Caracas. This increases congestion in the city centre and journey times for car users. o The river Guaire runs along the valley through the centre of the city. There are only a limited number of crossing points of the river. This is made worse by the expressway Francisco Fajardo, which broadly follows the course of the river. North and south Caracas are effectively split into two. This extends the distance needed to travel between points north and south of the river, and increases the level of congestion, particularly at these crossing points. o Only the Francisco Fajardo corridor constitutes a continuous axis along the central valley of Caracas, and many of the other principal routes are poorly connected. This means that
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circuitous routes often have to be made due to the lack of connectivity. Congestion also occurs at the points where expressways with several lanes are narrowed. • There is a lack of continuity in roadway maintenance programmes, which has lead to a reduction in the efficiency of the road networks. For example, the report stated that less than 5% of roads were in a good condition, that on less than 10% of roads the markings were of good quality and there was also an inadequate amount of signing. • The increase in the use of the private car has resulted in significant levels of congestion. Traffic signals have been implemented at 522 locations, although only Chacao has a traffic control centre in operation. A centre in Libertador is due to open shortly. • Road safety investigation and remedial measures are carried out by a number of different organisations and there is a lack of co-ordination. Safety priorities are not established at a city-wide level, the highest priorities for action may not be delivered, in areas such as engineering, enforcement or education campaigns. Many vehicles are in a poor state of repair and traffic regulations are frequently ignored. • Many vehicles emit excessive amounts of pollutants, particularly smoke (particulates). There are a limited number of initiatives to deal with this problem and a need for better co-ordination between environment and transport regulation agencies. • The rapid increase in car use has also impacted upon the urban fabric of the city. Extensive one- way systems with limited pedestrian priority makes the City difficult and unsafe for pedestrians. The informal economy that has sprung up alongside many roads further worsens the conditions for pedestrians. These factors discourage people from walking and/or spending time on the streets.
Areas of Co-operation
4.1 Providing a connected highway
4.1.1 Discussion concerning the road network structure of Caracas, was limited and the impact that this may have on routeing and traffic congestion in the city.Before potential areas of collaboration are agreed it is necessary to understand the background of the development of the highway projects currently proposed and the expected benefits resulting from the schemes. We will discuss this further with the Ministry of Infrastructure.
4.2 Improving Roadway maintenance
4.2.1 The existing highway network is in a bad condition and therefore cannot be used to its potential. London would work with the relevant organisations to advise on the processes to catalogue the highway infrastructure and assess their condition. London would also advise on the priorities for capital renewal and maintenance of the network on a long-term basis.
4.3. Traffic Control
4.3.1 Libertador is developing a traffic control system to link a number of the traffic signals in their municipality. The optimisation of traffic signals is an important element in improving the control and flow of traffic. Representatives from London would offer general advice on the development and operation of their traffic control system. Specific technical advice is dependant on compatibility between the systems operated in London and the Caracas Municipalities. TfL would work with other organisations and advise on the development, implementation and management of urban traffic control systems. In addition, there was a desire to improve traffic flow on the major road network, in a similar way to that operating along the “red routes” in London. Three major
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roads were initially identified, which are Avenida Baralt, Avenida Urdaneta and Avenida Fransisco de Miranda. London would advise the relevant authorities on measures that could be implemented to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
4.4 Safety
4.4.1 A limited discussion on road safety issues took. The issue of road safety education was raised and information on the work carried out by Inmetra on road safety education has been provided. The main causes of collisions have been identified as excess speed and excess alcohol.
4.4.2 A greater level of collaboration between the different parties involved in road safety is necessary in order to maximise the benefits from any investment. These parties could include: MINFRA (INTTT/CTVTTT); INMETRA and the Municipalities. London could work with these organisations and advise on the following areas:
• Commissioning research/reviewing data to better understand the main road safety issues in the city – which could relate to locations, groups of people or specific issues that have a higher incidence of being involved in road traffic collisions • Identifying city-wide priorities for intervention of engineering measures and agreeing a co- ordinated work programme • Further develop integrated education and enforcement campaigns across the city
4.5 Environment
4.5.1 Discussions are currently underway with the Ministry of Environment regarding co-operation in the monitoring of air quality and the development of simulation models to test the impact of air quality policies. With little industry in the City, much of the air pollution problems are as a direct result of traffic. As part of the co-operation agreement London and Venezuela will work together to specify measures that could be implemented to improve the level of air quality in the city.
4.6 Urban Realm
4.6.1 A small part of the city centre is pedestrianised. The recent improvements along Sabana Grande and the renovation of the historic centre show how significant such improvements can be.
4.6.2 Limited discussions took place during the visit on this issue. Improving the quality of the urban environment to reduce the dominance of the car is important. Physical measures, such as pedestrianisation, could be linked to the ongoing renovation of the major historic buildings, which would help to improve the ambience of the whole area. Other physical improvements could be linked to other initiatives, such as bus priority or the relocation of the informal sector. London would work with the relevant organisations to advise on the development and implementation of plans for improving the urban realm. This should be focused in the major centres in the city where pedestrian flows are higher, and in particular the historic city centre.
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Background to Co-operation Agreement.
On 18th May at a Press Conference in City Hall, with the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, President Hugo Chavez said:
“Venezuelan oil: we have the largest reserve of oil in the whole planet, more than 300 thousand million barrels of oil there, that we want to share with other peoples; but not just to benefit only the elite as we had in Venezuela or other parts of the world – but everybody.
Co-operation between us has started already, of course, politically, socially, it has started. However, with this visit, we are hoping to deepen this, not only in the matter of energy. I’m talking about a very integral type of co-operation.
For example, traffic, public transport in Caracas.
Then the environment, the protection of the environment. What happens with all the waste? How is it managed? These are just a few examples. The whole system of transportation, public security and safety. As I was explaining to my friend , I have lived for a few years in Caracas, and it is very painful to see what happens there. Just like in many other capital cities of Latin America, Caracas suffered the consequences of a lack of a model. The growth of the city was not planned, the flight of so many millions of people from the countryside to the city. And this is how Caracas was created: a huge city where there is a small group of very rich people and then another Caracas where there is a huge majority very poor people. So one of my dreams and aspirations, as I was saying to Ken Livingstone, is to transform - together with the people of Caracas, and the Mayor of Caracas - to be able to transform the city. Of course, is something that will require a great effort and vast knowledge; and the City Hall of London has a lot of experience and also the good will and this is something in Caracas that we are grateful for.
We are talking about joint co-operation, opening a certain amount of possibilities and opportunities.”
Subsequently an agreement was reached (attached) which provides TfL with discounted oil for use in the bus fleet, the benefits of which are passed on to people on Income Support that receive cheaper travel.
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VENEZUELA
Background Introduction to Venezuela
Area: 916,445 sq km Population: 25 million Capital City: Caracas (greater Caracas population 5 million) People: Mestizo (67%), Caucasian (21%), Black (10%), Indigenous (2%). Colombians form the largest expatriate community (1.6million) Language: Spanish Religion(s): Roman Catholic Currency: Bolivar Major political parties: Hugo Chavez’s Movimiento Quinta República (MVR), Patria Para Todos (PPT), Podemos . Main Opposition Parties: Acción Democrática (AD), the Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente, (COPEI), Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Primero Justicia (Justice First), Proyecto Venezuela. Government: Federal Republic comprising 22 States, one Federal District and 72 islands which are Federal Dependencies. The executive dominates the other four branches of government: the legislature, the Consejo Moral Republicano (CMR, Moral Republican Council), the judiciary and the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE, the National Electoral Council). Legislature: Under the 1999 Constitution a unicameral National Assembly with 165 seats in which the government has a small majority, Elections for the National Assembly are due in December 2005. Head of State: President Hugo Chávez-Frías Foreign Minister: Ali Rodríguez Araque. Membership of international groupings/organisations:UN, OPEC, ALADI (the Latin American Integration Association), IMF, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Organisation of American States, the Community of Andean Nations, Association of Caribbean States, G77, G15, G3, Mercosur (associate member).
Economy
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US$ 99.5 billion (2004) GDP per head: US$ 3,980 (2004) Annual Growth: -9.2% (2003), 17.3% (2004) Inflation: 27% 2003; 19% (2004) Major Industries: Oil, Gas, Telecomms, Consumer Goods, Mining, Agriculture Major trading partners: United States, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, Japan
Venezuela is a country of vast economic potential. The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for 50% of central government revenue and 70% of exports. Venezuela's current account is well in surplus. Central bank reserves stand at over 24.8 billion USD (March 2004). Debt is around 40% of GDP.
Outlook Following two years of double-digit recession, the economy is recovering some of the lost ground in 2004. Most analysts believe that GDP will grow by 8-10% this year. Attempts to diversify and build infrastructure are making some headway, as are mineral exploitation projects in Guayana (carried out by the state enterprise Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana – CVG). But it is too soon to say how
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government-backed schemes will develop in the long term. Meanwhile private sector investment is weak, at least in the non-oil sector. For the foreseeable future, Venezuela will remain dependent on oil. PDVSA (state oil and gas company) is currently lagging behind in terms of maintenance and exploration with the result that output is falling. It currently stands at around 2.4-2.6 mbpd (cf 3.5mbpd before the 2002/3 general strike). Foreign investors are lining up to invest in the Venezuelan energy sector, but decision-making has been slow and unpredictable. On current performance, especially the fact of high state spending due to political considerations, Venezuela could be vulnerable to a sudden fall in oil prices.
From 1970 to 1998 per capita income in Venezuela fell by 35 percent. This was the worst economic decline in the region and one of the worst in the world – much worse even than in Africa during that period.
An economic upturn in 2000-2001 was sabotaged by the actions of the anti-Chávez opposition. The results of political instability, including the attempted military coup in April of 2002, were intensified by the oil ‘strike’ (employers’ lockout) from December 2002 to February 2003 which crippled the economy. Between the fourth quarter of 2001 and the first quarter of 2003 GDP declined by 28%.
Economic growth would otherwise have been substantially higher and probably well above the average for the region. As it was, following the defeat of the 2002-3 ‘strike’ the economy began to recover and then grew very rapidly – 17.9% in 2004, 9.3% in 2005 and around 9% in 2006.
Though economic growth is expected to slow slightly to 5% in 2007, the Chávez government’s budget plan, submitted to the National Assembly, provides for an increase of 32% in government spending in 2007, 44.6% of which will be for social projects such as cooperatives, housing, salaries, pensions and health and education missions.
Despite the best efforts of the opposition, the Chávez government has succeeded in ending the country’s long-term economic decline, promoting growth and expanding public services.
Banco Central de Venezuela
Data released by the Banco Central de Venezuela (BCV) confirm that the Venezuelan economy grew at a cumulative 10.2 percent between the fourth quarter of 2004 and the fourth quarter of 2005.
Overall, in 2005, the gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 9.3 percent. Just like in the previous eight quarters, the strong increase was fundamentally driven by activities not related to oil: civil construction (28.3 percent), domestic trade (19.9 percent), transportation (10.6 percent), and manufacturing (8.5 percent). The oil sector had an increase of only 2.7 percent. According to a report by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), the unemployment rate in December 2005 was 8.9 percent, two percentage points below the rate in the same period of 2004. In absolute terms, this means 266,000 additional jobs.
Last year, the inflation rate reached 14.4 percent, but that was below the 19.2 percent rate in 2004. The nominal interest rate went down to 14.8 percent.
Hugo Chávez won the presidential elections of December 1998 because Venezuela was facing its most catastrophic economic, political, social, institutional, and moral crisis, after 40 years of power sharing between the traditional parties Acción Democrática (the socialdemocrats) and COPEI (the Christian democrats). The country and the people agonized as a result of the rampant corruption, profligacy, and perversity of the Fourth Republic (1958-98).
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Venezuela, which hardly benefited from the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979, was sinking, at a faster speed since the early 1980s.
According to Domingo Maza Zavala, currently a director of the BCV, between 1976 and 1995 alone, the country was awash with nearly 270 billion dollars in oil revenues, equivalent to twenty times the Marshall Plan. Yet, the national foreign debt owed by Venezuela doubled between 1978 and 1982.
In 1999, Venezuela's GDP fell 6 percent. The contraction of the economy was a natural reflection of this period of adaptation, combined with inertias that dated back to the third quarter of 1998, as well as the oil's extremely low international price -- close to 9 dollars per barrel at the time.
The recovery of the prices of the crude -- direct fruit of actions undertaken by the Chávez government -- and the expansive fiscal and monetary policies put in place marked the beginning of a new stage.
During the years 2000 and 2001, the GDP increases of 3.7 and 3.4 percent, respectively. In these eight quarters, the non-oil GDP grew 4 percent on average, whereas the oil GDP only rose 1.2 percent. There were verifiable drops in unemployment, the consumer price index and the interest rate, which led to an increase in credit, consumption and GDP per capita.
Then a battle that lasted a year and a half, approximately. Between the end of 2001 and February 2003, everything happened in Venezuela: the bosses' lockout in December 2001; the coup d'etat promoted by the CIA in April 2002; conspiracies and the "oil sabotage" between the last quarter of 2002 and February 2003. The foreseeable result: the Venezuelan economy fell 8.9 percent and 7.7 percent in 2002 and 2003, respectively. This was a collapse akin to a war economy.
The 2002 coup caused the collapse of oil production from 3 million barrels per day to 25,000, paralyzing production and triggering the bankruptcy of hundreds of companies.
In the first and second quarters of 2003, the GDP fell 15 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Altogether, for seven consecutive quarters, the economy, the income per capita, and the international reserves fell -- all accompanied by a rise of the unemployment rate to 20.7 percent, of the annual inflation rate to 27.1 percent, and of the interest rate to 22 percent.
But, the third quarter of 2003 ushered the beginning of the fourth and current phase of the Venezuelan economy in the administration of Hugo Chávez: the recovery. To understand the magnitude of this recovery, consider the size of the disasters in 2002 and 2003. Today, for example, the gross formation of fixed capital -- the additional accumulation of capital assets --reaches 24.2 percent of total GDP. In the middle of the 2003 conspiracies, it fell to 14.0 percent.
WHY IS THE ECONOMY GROWING?
This reinvigoration of the Venezuelan economy is direct -- although nonexclusive -- result of the increase in oil prices to an average of 57.4 dollars per barrel (Brent blend, December 2005). The hydrocarbons are -- and will continue to be for years to come -- a pillar of the economy.
Even more significant is the acceleration in the manufacturing industry between early 2003 and the present. Manufacturing was the sector that grew the fastest in the period, recently surpassing oil GDP -- for the first time since 1997, starting year of this statistical series at the BCV. The share of manufacturing in total GDP, which shrunk to 14.7 percent during the "oil sabotage," is now reaching 16.7 percent with a momentum to grow briskly.
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From early 2003, the share of final consumption goods in total imports has gone down from 37.6 percent to 24.2 percent, accompanied by an increase in the acquisition of goods devoted to gross capital formation from 12.3 percent to 25.7 percent of the total. That is to say, Venezuela has invested its foreign exchange in purchasing machinery, parts, and equipment that make it possible for the process of sovereign industrialization to proceed.
Luciano Wexell Severo is a Brazilian economist. This article was originally published in Spanish by Rebelión on 12 March 2006. The English translation was provided by Julio Huato for MR Zine
From 2002 the economic situation meant that large numbers of people moved from the formal economy to the informal economy. In Caracas over 1.5m people were classified as such in 2002, and this have reduced by half over the proceeding 5 years.
The oil income has given the Venezuelan Government the opportunity to pay off its international debt to the IMF and the World Bank. This was completed in 2007. The President stated:
'With this last payment (to the World Bank), paying off the debt that was almost 3 billion dollars in 1998, I can say to them today that we don't owe a cent of debt either to the International Monetary Fund or to the World Bank,' he exclaimed.
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Background Information
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías; born July 28, 1954 is the 53rd and current President of Venezuela. As the leader of the "Bolivarian Revolution", Chávez is known for his democratic socialist governance, his promotion of Latin American integration, and his criticism, which he terms anti-imperialism, of neoliberal globalization and United States foreign policy.
A career military officer, Chávez founded the leftist Fifth Republic Movement after a failed 1992 coup d'état. Chávez was elected President in 1998 on promises of aiding Venezuela's poor majority, and reelected in 2000. Domestically, Chávez has launched Bolivarian Missions to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, and other social ills. Abroad, Chávez has acted against the Washington Consensus by supporting alternative models of economic development, and has advocated cooperation among the world's poor nations, especially those in Latin America.
Chávez has been severely criticized, mostly by Venezuela's middle and upper classes. He has been accused of electoral fraud, severe human rights violations, assaulting democracy in favor of dictatorship, and political repression, and has survived both a brief 2002 coup and a failed 2004 recall referendum.
Achievements of President Chavez’s ‘missions’
Oil profits — approximately $25 billion in 2004 — have subsequently allowed the Chávez administration to inject massive amounts of capital into various new social programs; these take the guise of the Bolivarian "Missions".
Bolivarian Missions
1. Education Mission Robinson (launched in July 2003) - uses volunteers to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic to the more than 1.5 million Venezuelan adults who were at that time illiterate. On October 28, 2005, Venezuela was officially declared illiteracy-free territory by the UNESCO. A total of 1,482,543 Venezuelans learned to read and write; they were helped by 128,967 teachers in 136,041 classrooms. Many other governments, heads of states, personalities and organizations praised this mission.
There are currently 11,700 Venezuelans registered for the new phase of this mission.
Mission Ribas (launched November 2003) - provides remedial high school level classes to the five million Venezeulan high school dropouts; named after independence hero José Felix Ribas. From 2003 to January 2006, the Bolivarian government has helped 885,410 Venezuelans enter this mission. There are currently 578,668 Venezuelans studying in this mission with the help of 32,167 teachers, 5,177 coordinators at 8,306 school facilities nationwide. There are 32,291 classrooms and 173,834 students have received scholarships.
Mission Sucre (launched in late 2003) - provides free and ongoing basic education courses to the two million adult Venezuelans who had not completed their elementary-level education. So far, this program has registered 472,363 high school graduates, 429,215 of which have been assisted and 318,381 have finished the University Introductory Program. A total of 330,346 high school graduates have registered in the education programs. Also, the mission has granted 96,412 scholarships ($100) to the poorest students, and it is checking other 2,968 scholarships.
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Likewise, 10,212 teachers work for the education programs and 1,107 university villages are distributed all around the country. These examples are a proof of the determination and strategy of the State to cancel a social debt. Also, this program guarantees access to higher education to all Venezuelans.
2. Food and nutrition Mission Mercal - seeks to provide access to high-quality produce, grains, dairy, and meat at discounted prices. Seeks to provide Venezuela's poor increased access to nutritious, safe, and organic locally- and nationally-grown foodstuffs. Seeks also to increase Venezuela's food sovereignty.
This program was created to trade and sell food and other essential products like medicines at affordable prices. It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Food’s goal for 2005 was to set up 6,000 sale points; this represents 14,539,300 people benefiting from this program.
Also, 6,004 Soup Kitchens are working; these benefits 900,600 people by giving them free meals. These meals are given to the poorest sectors of the population. Regarding nutrition and protection, 1,374,312 people living in extreme poverty have benefited from this programme.
3. Healthcare Mission Barrio Adentro ("Mission Inside the Neighborhood") - a series of initiatives (deployed in three distinct stages: I, II, and III) to provide free, comprehensive, and high-quality community health care (at both the primary (Consultorios y Clínicas Populares or clinics) and secondary (hospital) levels) in addition to preventative medical counsel to the twenty million people that live in Venezuela's medically underserved and impoverished barrios.
This mission’s general objective is to provide access to health care assistance to 60 percent of the excluded population through the construction of 8,000 Popular Medical Centers, to provide a doctor to 250 families (1,200 people), to increase the life expectancy rate of the population and to contribute to the development, growth and ageing with a good standard of life.
Barrio Adentro Mission I has made an important progress in this sense by providing 162,012,583 people with medical assistance, 14,716,325 people with dental assistance and 3,811,741 people with eye assistance, by saving 31,063 lives, by giving 375,144 glasses, and by constructing 1,012 medical centers.
Barrio Adentro Mission II was launched on June 12, 2005. This mission opened 30 Integral Diagnosis Centers and 30 Integral Rehabilitation Rooms all around the country. These centers have make possible to perform 3,936,874 lab tests, 535,631 emergency surgeries, 775,690 ultrasounds, 285,415 X-Rays, 324,936 electrocardiograms, 108 operations, 55,499 endoscopies, 1,064,339 rehabilitation treatments.
Also, 200 Integral Diagnosis Centers (CDI, Spanish acronym) and Integral Rehabilitation Rooms (SRI, Spanish acronym) have been opened during these last months. 103 are already finished and they are in the endowment phase. 704 are still under construction.
Likewise, Barrio Adentro III Mission is already working. This mission has to do with the strengthening of the hospital networks all around the country in order to meet the demand of Barrio Adentro II (CDI and SRI). This project is known as People’s Hospitals since it implies the modernization of hospital centers with medical and electromechanical equipment.
4. Housing Mission Hábitat ("Mission Habitat") - has as its goal the construction of thousands of new housing units for the poor. The program also seeks to develop agreeable and integrated housing zones that
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make available a full range of social services — from education to healthcare — which likens its vision to that of New Urbanism. Critics have denounced the slow rate of construction (less than 10,000 housing units built over the last six years).
5. Identification Mission Identidad - Provides Venezuelan national identity cards to facilitate access to the social services provided by other Missions.
6. Indigenous rights Mission Guaicaipuro (launched 12 October 2003) - carried out by the Venezuelan Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, this program seeks to restore communal land titles and human rights to Venezuela's numerous indigenous communities, in addition to defending their these rights against resource and financial speculation by the dominant culture.
This mission’s goal is to restore human rights to numerous indigenous communities. This program was launched in August 2004 and it has handed over 21 communal land titles to an indigenous population of 6,769 people.
The government has carried out a total of 61 projects, which represents an amount of more than 2 million dollars. The national government has financed 32 projects for a total of 600,000 dollars. Guaicaipuro Mission represents the restoration of constitutional rights to indigenous people, as well as economic development, land demarcation, strengthening of their identity, language, education, habitat and health.
7. Land reform Mission Zamora provides a comprehensive land expropriation and redistribution program that mainly benefits poor Venezuelans.
Mission Zamora’s main goal is to hand over land titles to farmers in order to guarantee the food offer for the have-nots and to bet for social economy and endogenous development. This mission is linked with Mercal.
Since January 2005, the government has granted 68,528 future land titles. This represents an area of 7,222,880 acres, apart from the 80 awarded titles that represent an area of 87,739 acres. There are 48 Zamora Ranches, representing a total of 56,994 acres.
8. Rural development Mission Vuelta al Campo ("Return to the Countryside"; announced in mid 2005) - seeks to encourage impoverished and unemployed urban Venezuelans to willingly return to the countryside
9. Science Mission Ciencia ("Mission Science") - scheduled to begin in February 2006
10. Socioeconomic transformation Mission Vuelvan Caras ("Mission Turn Faces") - has as its objective the transformation of the present Venezuelan economy to one that is oriented towards social, rather than fiscal and remunerative, goals. It seeks to facilitate increased involvement of ordinary citizens in programs of endogenous and sustainable social development, emphasizing in particular the involvement of traditionally marginalized or excluded Venezuelan social and economic sectors, including those participating in Venezuela's significant "informal" economy. The mission's ultimate goal, according to Hugo Chávez, is to foster an economy that brings "a quality and dignified life for all".
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Vuelvan Caras Mission’s goal is to provide vocational training for work. People graduating from different missions must gradually incorporate into the country’s economic production process and this is fulfilled through Vuelvan Caras Mission. This program represents the claiming for our knowledge and our creating potential and it serves the transformation of the socioeconomic model proposed by the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Since January 2004, 6,814 cooperatives have been shaped, 130 Endogenous Development Centers are working, and there are 5,627 financed cooperatives and 264,720 graduates. The funds for these cooperatives amount to $ 423,914.
ALBA
The Chavez administration proposed the Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America (ALBA) as a means of integrating the Latin American economy. The basic concept of this agreement is that trade should be based on comparative advantage, economic cooperation, hemispheric consensus and democratic principles not on the needs of a handful of transnational corporations or the interests of one dominant country.
More than that, ALBA is meant to counter the hegemony of US-dominated trading blocs. It is designed to extend the concept of the Bolivarian social missions internationally and, contrary to the basic structure of neoliberalism that denies the provision of basic services, would in fact insist on it.
Under this initiative in April 2006 - Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela signed a three-way trade agreement aimed at countering US influence in Latin America.
Eye Treatment Working together with Cuba (who provided the medical skills) Chavez has funded eye treatment for people across the Caribbean.
The joint Cuban-Venezuelan plan, covering people from all Latin America and the Caribbean, offers to treat 600,000 people a year over the next 10 years.
Oil Recently, 13 Caribbean governments signed the PetroCaribe accord, which supplies them with 185,700 barrels of Venezuelan oil daily and defers payments for 30 per cent of the imports for 15 years at an interest rate of 2 per cent a year, the rate decreasing in proportion to the increase in the oil price on the world market.
Chavez has also offered the islands a $50m grant for social programmes. He is drawing up plans to provide cheap heating oil to poor communities in the U.S. after meeting with Rev. Jesse Jackson in Caracas in August 2005. High oil prices have left many poor US citizens with inadequate heating during cold winters.
More than 180 thousand homes and shelters (760 thousand people), have received heating fuel with a 40 percent discount. More than 400 elderly homes and homeless shelters also benefited from this program. In this case, they received heating fuel totally free of charge.
So far eight states have benefited from this initiative: New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maine and Rhode Island.
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Media in Venezuela
The media in Venezuela has freedom of expression Out of 180 newspapers 95% oppose the current administration There are 5 private TV stations all of which oppose President Chavez. There is one publicly owned TV station – Channel 8 – which has existed for 30 years.
Human Rights in Venezuela: The State Department’s 2005 Report
A recent report by the U.S. State Department provides information challenging the idea that human rights problems are widespread under the Chavez Administration in Venezuela. International media coverage of these issues often focuses on alleged human rights problems both regarding long-term structural issues (such as prison reform, an endemic problem present long before the present administration) and more recent accusations by government opponents regarding freedom of press and political persecution. The following statements are taken directly from the U.S. State Department’s 2005 Human Rights Report and address a number of areas relating to human rights in Venezuela:
Political Freedoms “The law provides for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right in practice.”
“There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances;”
“The government or its agents were not accused of committing any politically motivated killings;”
“…no deaths resulted from security force intervention in antigovernment demonstrations.”
Freedom of Press “…print and electronic media were independent…”
Controversial charges against journalists, especially one high profile case defamation case against El Universal, were dismissed by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.
Education & Academic Freedom “There were no government restrictions on the Internet or academic freedom.”
“…professional and academic associations indicated they generally operated without interference…”
Government ministries “ran educational programs to reincorporate school dropouts and adults into the educational system.”
“The government also provided free adult educational and technical training through the Barrio Adentro Mission Program.”
Elections “The law provides citizens with the right to change their government peacefully, and citizens exercised this right through periodic elections held on the basis of universal suffrage.”
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“The government cooperated with international governmental organizations and permitted visits by OAS representatives.”
Human Trafficking “The government assisted with international investigations of trafficking.”
“In July authorities assisted in the repatriation of three Colombian victims of trafficking.”
“In January the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the OAS and the International Organization for Migration for the antitrafficking workshops to raise public awareness of the problem.”
“The government provided trafficking victims with psychological and physical examinations.”
Labor “The law stipulates that the work week may not exceed 44 hours. Managers are prohibited from obligating employees to work additional time, and workers have the right to weekly time away from work. Overtime may not exceed 2 hours daily, 10 hours weekly, or 100 hours annually, and may not be paid at a rate less than time-and-one-half. The ministry effectively enforced these standards in the formal sector.”
“The law protects children from exploitation in the workplace. The Ministry of Labor and the National Institute for Minors enforced child labor policies effectively in the formal sector of the economy.”
“The law protects children from exploitation in the workplace. The Ministry of Labor and the National Institute for Minors effectively in the formal sector of the economy…”
Replacement workers were not permitted during legal strikes.
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Venezuela Briefing
1 Country profile
2 Developments in Venezuela since the last Presidential election
3 Achievements of President Chavez’s Bolivarian ‘Missions’
4 Background to co-operation agreement
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1. Country Profile
Area: 916,445 sq km Population: 26.6 million (2005 estimate) Capital City: Caracas (greater Caracas population 5 million) People: Mestizo (67%), Caucasian (21%), Black (10%), Indigenous (2%). Colombians form the largest expatriate community (1.6million) Language: Spanish Religion(s): Roman Catholic Currency: Bolivar Major political parties: Hugo Chávez’s Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) is a broad based pro-Government unity party comprising his previous party Movimiento Quinta República (MVR) and some representatives from Patria Para Todos (PPT), Podemos and other smaller parties. The main opposition parties are: Un Nuevo Tiempo, Acción Democrática (AD), the Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente, (COPEI), Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Primero Justicia (Justice First), Proyecto Venezuela. The opposition parties withdrew from the last elections for the National Assembly so are not represented in parliament. Government: Federal Republic comprising 22 States, one Federal District and 72 islands which are Federal Dependencies. The executive dominates the other four branches of government: the legislature, the Consejo Moral Republicano (CMR, Moral Republican Council), the judiciary and the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE, the National Electoral Council). Legislature: The 1999 Constitution established a unicameral legisture. The National Assembly consists of 177 deputies. Head of State: President Hugo Chávez-Frías Foreign Minister: Nicolas Maduro Membership of international groupings/organisations:UN, OPEC, ALADI (the Latin American Integration Association), IMF, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Organisation of American States, Mercosur, Association of Caribbean States, South American Community of Nations (SACN) G77, G15.
Economy GDP: US$ 118 billion (2005) GDP per head: US$ 4,600 (2005) Annual Growth: -9.2% (2003), 17.3% (2004), 9% (2005), 9.6 (est 2006) Inflation: 27% 2003; 19% (2004), 14.4% (2005), 14.9% (Dec 2006) Major Industries: Oil, Gas, Telecoms, Consumer Goods, Mining, Agriculture Major trading partners: United States, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, Japan, China
Venezuela is a country of vast economic potential. The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for 50% of central government revenue and 70% of exports. It has the world’s largest conventional oil reserves outside the Middle East. The economy has experienced ten consecutive quarters of sustained high growth, due in large part to high public spending and private consumption, fuelled by high oil prices and historically low interest rates (maintained at 14% - Dec 06). Venezuela's current account is well in surplus. Central bank reserves stand at 28.9 billion USD (Jan 2006). International reserves at the Central Bank totalled US$34.7bn in October 2006. Debt is around 40% of GDP. The national currency, the Bolivar, is pegged to the US$. Price controls are in place for many key items.
2. Developments in Venezuela since the last Presidential election
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2.1 Chavez Re-election - A Mandate For Continuing Change
At Venezuela's presidential election on 3 December, Hugo Chavez received 63% of the vote with main opponent Manuel Rosales on 37%.
The election saw the greatest ever number of votes cast in a presidential election in Venezuelan history. The turnout of 75% was the highest for 18 years. Since Chavez was first elected participation in presidential elections has risen from 7 to 11.6 million votes.
The number of absolute votes received by Chavez in Presidential elections has increased from 3.6 million in 1998 to 7.3 million votes in 2006 – a doubling of his vote.
This increased democratic legitimacy was indicated in a poll in December by Latinobarometro (a respected Latin America think-tank) surveying support for democracy in Latin America. This showed that over the eight years since Chavez was first elected president, the percentage of citizens satisfied with their democracy increased more in Venezuela than any other country, from 32% to 57%. Venezuela topped the poll in a number of areas.
2.2 New Policy Announcements – Extending Democracy, Social Justice and International Co- Operation
Constitutional Reforms Venezuela is set to have a national debate and referendum on proposed constitutional reforms that include a strengthening of Community Councils, the shortening of the working week to six hours a day and the limit of the number of times a person can run for President removed.
Re-nationalisations In January, the Venezuelan government announced plans to:
a) renationalise Venezuela’s largest electric utility Electricidad de Caracas [EDC] and the telecommunications company CANTV, privatised under previous governments as part of financial arrangements with the IMF.
b) ensure a majority stake for the government in exploration of four heavy crude oil sites in the oil rich Orinoco basin by 1 May 2007. The government’s minority stake with private companies in current ventures in this region -- including with Chevron, Exxon Mobile and BP-- will become a majority stake and the private companies are invited to continue as minority partners.
These re-nationalisations of the electricity and telecommunications companies are now underway. Compensation is being paid and the interests of small/employee shareholders protected.
On February 8, the Venezuela’s state owned oil company, PDVSA, agreed to purchase a majority stake in EDC. The agreement was formalized in a memorandum of understanding with AES, the U.S.-based company that currently owned 82.14% of EDC
Additionally, the government and the New York-based Verizon Communications Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding for the government’s purchase of the company’s stake in CANTV.
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Community Councils David Velasquez, Minister for Popular Participation, announced recently that 25,000 Communal Councils have been established. President Chavez has referred to the Councils as an “explosion of popular power” and they are central to the government’s concept of participatory democracy. Velasquez added that the aim is to have 50,000 Community Councils established by the end of this year and that the state has earmarked 6 billion Bolivars (US$2.5 million) for local projects to be implemented and administered by the Councils.
International solidarity The government has continued to promote Latin American integration as a way of dealing with the problems of poverty affecting large sections in the region. Since December a number of agreements have been signed with the recently elected governments in Ecuador and Nicaragua, including the provision of discounted energy resources, which are expected to reduce poverty significantly. Venezuela is also assisting with new measures to expand health and education in these countries and others such as Bolivia.
On 24 December, Joseph P. Kennedy II, a former member of Congress from Massachusetts explained in an article in the Boston Globe the benefits to poor and vulnerable US citizens of the cheap oil provided by Hugo Chavez. (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/12/24/yes_oil_ from_venezuela/)
Other • Chavez has also called for a constitutional amendment to strip the autonomy of the Central Bank. • Chavez has said he would like to see a constitutional amendment to remove the two- term limit on Presidents.
2.3 Media distortions since the elections: the Enabling Legislation and RCTV
Since his re-election a large amount of press coverage has sought to portray Chavez as following an anti-democratic path, in particular for the passing of Enabling Laws -- allowing him to enact legislation -- and for the government decision not to renew the license of TV company RCTV when it expires in May. The coverage is inaccurate.
Enabling Laws – Rule by decree
In order to facilitate the rapid implementation Chavez electoral mandate, the National Assembly has granted the President the power to enact legislation directly in 11 areas of government for the next 12 months.
Contrary to some media coverage, these Enabling Laws have strict boundaries and are in line with both the Venezuelan constitution and historical precedence.
Article 236 (8) of the Venezuelan Constitution allows Enabling Laws to be passed, and any legislation passed by the President using these powers must be in line with the constitution. Further, the President can only issue ‘law-decrees’ in the specific areas agreed by the National Assembly (with a 3/5ths majority) and for the time limit it imposes. Some of the laws also need to be submitted to the Supreme Court, which vets the law for its constitutionality.
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Article 74 of the constitution allows for any of the law-decrees issued by the President to be reversed by referenda if at least 5 per cent of registered voters request one (800,000 out of 16 million registered voters).
It is the eighth time since the re-establishment of democracy in 1958 that the Venezuelan President has been empowered to enact legislation. In the past these powers were used to take important decisions about Venezuela’s direction, without an outcry from Washington and the international media. Examples include:
• 1974, the Venezuelan Congress gave President Carlos Andres Perez the right to `rule by decree’ on a number of economic matters, which he used to pass new regulations on a minimum wage increase, freezing the market price of ‘necessary’ goods, on taxes and pensions, and to establish new state institutions, including the National Institute of Housing and an Industrial Development Fund. • 1984, Congress gave authority to the President Jaime Lusinchi, to deal with the country's financial crisis by decree, via an exchange rate scheme. • 1993, interim President Ramon Jose Velasquez used special ‘decree’ powers on matters of the country's debt and to reform the financial system.
Even U.S. diplomat, Thomas Shannon, noted that the Enabling Law that “It's something valid under the constitution,” said Shannon, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. “As with any tool of democracy, it depends how it is used,'' he added. “At the end of the day, it's not a question for the United States or for other countries, but for Venezuela.”
RCTV:
Another issue which has received much hostile press coverage is the decision not to renew the license of the RCTV television station.
Contrary to some reports, the station was not closed down and is now broadcasting on cable television. The government’s broadcasting concession was not renewed in line with public regulation legislation, which is common to all democracies.
The government based this decision on RCTV’s lack of cooperation with tax laws over a number of years, its failure to pay fines issued by the telecommunications commission, and its refusal to abide by laws prohibiting incitation to political violence.
Specifically, RCTV played a key role in the April 2002 illegal coup d’etat against President Chávez. As shown in one of the scenes of the documentary ‘The Revolution Will Not be Televised’, the morning after the military coup against Chavez a number of journalists and military plotters boast of their joint role in it. They cite how they made “Chavez stay in the country ... then we activated the plan" to get the people on the street and, when things reached their peak, to "activate the army." In this exchange, one conspirator says, for this: "I must thank Venevision and RCTV."
In its place, press reports indicate that the license will go to (a number of) community based stations, increasing grassroots participation in the media in Venezuela.
It is also important to recognise the private media in Venezuela is overwhelmingly anti-Chavez, so there is no question of suppressing different voices. The anti-Chavez private media consists of five privately owned major television channels, and nine out of the ten major newspapers
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available. The five private television networks control over 90 percent of the market. As early as 1999, 95 percent of the media was anti-Chávez.
2.4 Chavez calls for a new united socialist party
Following his election victory Chavez called for all the parties who supported him in his election to unite into one party which he suggested could be called the United Socialist party of Venezuela.
At the 2006 election, Chavez was supported by 24 parties. His own party the ‘Movement For A Fifth Republic’ provided him with 41.7% of the 63% he won for president; 15% came from PODEMOS – the party for social democracy, the Communist party of Venezuela and Fatherland for All; whilst the remaining 7% came from a number of small parties. It is these parties that Chavez wants to unite.
To date over five million people have joined the party and Movemento Fifth Republic has been dissolved.
Media misrepresentation claims this single party evidence of a shift to a one party state, but opposition parties will still exist and contest elections, as will pro-Chavez parties that decide to not to joint the new party.
2.5 Petrocaribe Unites The Caribbean
Petrocaribe is a Caribbean oil alliance launched in 2005 with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment, aiming at energy integration of the region as part of moves towards closer economic, political and social co-operation, as part of Venezuela’s project to work with other nations to turn Latin America and the Caribbean into a big bloc within the framework of an emerging multipolar world.
The payment system allows for nations to buy oil on market value but only a certain amount is needed up front; the remainder can be paid through a 25 year financing agreement on 1% interest, allowing Caribbean nations to purchase up to 185,000 barrels of oil per day on these terms. In addition it allows for nations to pay part of the cost with other products provided to Venezuela, such as bananas, rice, and sugar. Dominican President Leonel Fernandez, for example, has said his country hopes to begin an exchange program offering hotel and tourism training to visiting Venezuelans.
PetroCaribe only deals with state controlled entities, meaning that the agreement eliminates all intermediaries, reducing corruption and other inefficiencies to help economic and social development. So far, Caribbean countries have already financed nearly $1 billion in fuel purchases, and due to interest as low as 1%, have seen savings of $450 million.
At a summit held on 11 August 2007, the agreement was extended to 15 nations, with Nicaragua and Haiti becoming the latest nations to join. Speaking at the summit, Hugo Chavez pledged to meet Caribbean nations' oil needs for years to come, and urged the region to unite and become less reliant on the US, saying: "If we truly unite ... the grandchildren of our grandchildren will have no energy problems." Explaining the thinking behind the agreement he added, "Venezuela puts this oil wealth at the disposition of our peoples of the Caribbean. It belongs to all of us."
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2.6 Ongoing US Threats Against Venezuelan Sovereignty
Despite the clear democratic mandate Chavez received in December, the Bush Administration has continued to express its hostility.
On 18 January, CIA director General Michael Hayden, told the Intelligence Committee of the House of Representatives that George W Bush had ordered the CIA to `pay more attention’ to the activities of Hugo Chavez.
On January 30, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told a Senate Committee that Chavez's behaviour “is threatening democracies in the region”, adding he did “not think [Chavez] has been a constructive force in the hemisphere.”
And on 7 February, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, said, “the Venezuelan President is actually destroying his country both economically and politically.”
2.7 Presidential Term limits
The Venezuelan parliament has given initial approval to reforms proposed by President Chavez, including an end to presidential term limits. The proposals still require a final endorsement by parliament and must then be put to a referendum. The constitutional reforms would also increase presidential control over the central bank. Current rules mean Mr Chavez must step down when his term ends in 2012.
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3. Achievements of President Chavez’s Bolivarian ‘missions’
Oil profits — approximately $25 billion in 2004 — have subsequently allowed the Chávez administration to inject massive amounts of capital into various new social programs; these take the guise of the Bolivarian "Missions".
Bolivarian Missions
1. Education Mission Robinson (launched in July 2003) - uses volunteers to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic to the more than 1.5 million Venezuelan adults who were at that time illiterate. On October 28, 2005, Venezuela was officially declared illiteracy-free territory by the UNESCO. A total of 1,482,543 Venezuelans learned to read and write; they were helped by 128,967 teachers in 136,041 classrooms. Many other governments, heads of states, personalities and organizations praised this mission.
There are currently 11,700 Venezuelans registered for the new phase of this mission.
Mission Ribas (launched November 2003) - provides remedial high school level classes to the five million Venezeulan high school dropouts; named after independence hero José Felix Ribas. From 2003 to January 2006, the Bolivarian government has helped 885,410 Venezuelans enter this mission. There are currently 578,668 Venezuelans studying in this mission with the help of 32,167 teachers, 5,177 coordinators at 8,306 school facilities nationwide. There are 32,291 classrooms and 173,834 students have received scholarships.
Mission Sucre (launched in late 2003) - provides free and ongoing basic education courses to the two million adult Venezuelans who had not completed their elementary-level education. So far, this programme has registered 472,363 high school graduates, 429,215 of which have been assisted and 318,381 have finished the University Introductory Programme. A total of 330,346 high school graduates have registered in the education programmes. Also, the mission has granted 96,412 scholarships ($100) to the poorest students, and it is checking other 2,968 scholarships.
Likewise, 10,212 teachers work for the education programs and 1,107 university villages are distributed all around the country. These examples are a proof of the determination and strategy of the State to cancel a social debt. Also, this programme guarantees access to higher education to all Venezuelans.
2. Food and nutrition Mission Mercal - seeks to provide access to high-quality produce, grains, dairy, and meat at discounted prices. Seeks to provide Venezuela's poor increased access to nutritious, safe, and organic locally- and nationally-grown foodstuffs. Seeks also to increase Venezuela's food sovereignty.
This programme was created to trade and sell food and other essential products like medicines at affordable prices. It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Food’s goal for 2005 was to set up 6,000 sale points; this represents 14,539,300 people benefiting from this programme.
Also, 6,004 Soup Kitchens are working; these benefits 900,600 people by giving them free meals. These meals are given to the poorest sectors of the population. Regarding nutrition and protection, 1,374,312 people living in extreme poverty have benefited from this programme.
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3. Healthcare Mission Barrio Adentro ("Mission Inside the Neighbourhood") - a series of initiatives to provide free, comprehensive, and high-quality community health care (at both the primary (Consultorios y Clínicas Populares or clinics) and secondary (hospital) levels) in addition to preventative medical counsel to the twenty million people that live in Venezuela's medically underserved and impoverished barrios.
This mission’s general objective is to provide access to health care assistance to 60 percent of the excluded population through the construction of 8,000 Popular Medical Centers, to provide a doctor to 250 families (1,200 people), to increase the life expectancy rate of the population and to contribute to the development, growth and ageing with a good standard of life.
Barrio Adentro Mission I has made an important progress in this sense by providing 162,012,583 people with medical assistance, 14,716,325 people with dental assistance and 3,811,741 people with eye assistance, by saving 31,063 lives, by giving 375,144 glasses, and by constructing 1,012 medical centres.
Barrio Adentro Mission II was launched on June 12, 2005. This mission opened 30 Integral Diagnosis Centres and 30 Integral Rehabilitation Rooms all around the country. These centrs have make possible to perform 3,936,874 lab tests, 535,631 emergency surgeries, 775,690 ultrasounds, 285,415 X-Rays, 324,936 electrocardiograms, 108 operations, 55,499 endoscopies, 1,064,339 rehabilitation treatments.
Also, 200 Integral Diagnosis Centres (CDI, Spanish acronym) and Integral Rehabilitation Rooms (SRI, Spanish acronym) have been opened during these last months. 103 are already finished and they are in the endowment phase. 704 are still under construction.
Likewise, Barrio Adentro III Mission is already working. This mission has to do with the strengthening of the hospital networks all around the country in order to meet the demand of Barrio Adentro II (CDI and SRI). This project is known as People’s Hospitals since it implies the modernization of hospital centres with medical and electromechanical equipment.
4. Housing Mission Hábitat ("Mission Habitat") - has as its goal the construction of thousands of new housing units for the poor. The programme also seeks to develop agreeable and integrated housing zones that make available a full range of social services — from education to healthcare. Critics have denounced the slow rate of construction (less than 10,000 housing units built over the last six years).
5. Identification Mission Identidad - Provides Venezuelan national identity cards to facilitate access to the social services provided by other Missions.
6. Indigenous rights Mission Guaicaipuro (launched 12 October 2003) - carried out by the Venezuelan Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, this program seeks to restore communal land titles and human rights to Venezuela's numerous indigenous communities, in addition to defending their these rights against resource and financial speculation by the dominant culture.
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This mission’s goal is to restore human rights to numerous indigenous communities. This program was launched in August 2004 and it has handed over 21 communal land titles to an indigenous population of 6,769 people.
The government has carried out a total of 61 projects, which represents an amount of more than 2 million dollars. The national government has financed 32 projects for a total of 600,000 dollars. Guaicaipuro Mission represents the restoration of constitutional rights to indigenous people, as well as economic development, land demarcation, strengthening of their identity, language, education, habitat and health.
7. Land reform Mission Zamora provides a comprehensive land expropriation and redistribution program that mainly benefits poor Venezuelans.
Mission Zamora’s main goal is to hand over land titles to farmers in order to guarantee the food offer for the have-nots and to bet for social economy and endogenous development. This mission is linked with Mercal.
Since January 2005, the government has granted 68,528 future land titles. This represents an area of 7,222,880 acres, apart from the 80 awarded titles that represent an area of 87,739 acres. There are 48 Zamora Ranches, representing a total of 56,994 acres.
8. Rural development Mission Vuelta al Campo ("Return to the Countryside"; announced in mid 2005) - seeks to encourage impoverished and unemployed urban Venezuelans to willingly return to the countryside
9. Socioeconomic transformation Mission Vuelvan Caras ("Mission Turn Faces") - has as its objective the transformation of the present Venezuelan economy to one that is oriented towards social, rather than fiscal and remunerative, goals. It seeks to facilitate increased involvement of ordinary citizens in programs of endogenous and sustainable social development, emphasizing in particular the involvement of traditionally marginalized or excluded Venezuelan social and economic sectors, including those participating in Venezuela's significant "informal" economy. The mission's ultimate goal, according to Hugo Chávez, is to foster an economy that brings "a quality and dignified life for all".
Vuelvan Caras Mission’s goal is to provide vocational training for work. People graduating from different missions must gradually incorporate into the country’s economic production process and this is fulfilled through Vuelvan Caras Mission. This program represents the claiming for our knowledge and our creating potential and it serves the transformation of the socioeconomic model proposed by the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Since January 2004, 6,814 cooperatives have been shaped, 130 Endogenous Development Centers are working, and there are 5,627 financed cooperatives and 264,720 graduates. The funds for these cooperatives amount to $ 423,914.
ALBA
The Chavez administration proposed the Bolivarian Alternative the Americas (ALBA) as a means of integrating the Latin American economy. The basic concept of this agreement is that trade
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should be based on comparative advantage, economic cooperation, hemispheric consensus and democratic principles not on the needs of a handful of transnational corporations or the interests of one dominant country.
More than that, ALBA is meant to counter the hegemony of US-dominated trading blocs. It is designed to extend the concept of the Bolivarian social missions internationally and, contrary to the basic structure of neoliberalism that denies the provision of basic services, would in fact insist on it.
Under this initiative in April 2006 - Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela signed a three-way trade agreement aimed at countering US influence in Latin America.
Eye Treatment Working together with Cuba (who provided the medical skills) Chavez has funded eye treatment for people across the Caribbean. The joint Cuban-Venezuelan plan, covering people from all Latin America and the Caribbean, offers to treat 600,000 people a year over the next 10 years.
Oil Recently, 13 Caribbean governments signed the PetroCaribe accord, which supplies them with 185,700 barrels of Venezuelan oil daily and defers payments for 30 per cent of the imports for 15 years at an interest rate of 2 per cent a year, the rate decreasing in proportion to the increase in the oil price on the world market.
Chavez has also offered the islands a $50m grant for social programmes. He is drawing up plans to provide cheap heating oil to poor communities in the U.S. after meeting with Rev. Jesse Jackson in Caracas in August 2005. High oil prices have left many poor US citizens with inadequate heating during cold winters.
More than 180 thousand homes and shelters (760 thousand people), have received heating fuel with a 40 percent discount. More than 400 elderly homes and homeless shelters also benefited from this programme. In this case, they received heating fuel totally free of charge. So far eight states have benefited from this initiative: New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maine and Rhode Island.
Media in Venezuela
The media in Venezuela has freedom of expression Out of 180 newspapers 95% oppose the current administration There are 5 private TV stations all of which oppose President Chavez. There is one publicly owned TV station – Channel 8 – which has existed for 30 years.
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4. Background to Co-operation Agreement
4.1 An Agreement between Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) and the Greater London Authority was signed by the Mayor, Peter Hendy, Commissioner – Transport for London (TfL) and Alejandro Granados – Vice President of Refining PDVSA on 20 February 2007. The scheme went live with a soft launch on 10 August 2007.
4.2 Under the agreement, the energy funding contribution from PDVSA to TfL would be a cash payment equivalent to 20 per cent of the cost fuel incurred by London Bus Operators (the Energy Funding Contribution). At current prices this is estimated to be around £12 million a year.
4.3 The Energy Funding Contribution would operate on a yearly basis and will be used by TfL for the provision of discounted bus and tram travel at a rate of 50% from the “Oyster Pay as You Go” and “Bus Pass Season Ticket” prices published by TfL to recipients of Income Support resident within Greater London who are not otherwise eligible for any discounted travel or other travel concession on public passenger transport services for which TfL is responsible.
4.4 The main groups who receive income support are:
• Lone parents; • The long and short term sick; • People with disabilities; and • Other special groups for example, students who are either a lone parent or disabled or carers of the sick and disabled.
4.5 It is expected that around 250,000 people would be eligible for this concession.
4.6 TfL shall provide to PDVSA and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela the Technical Advice consistent with TfL’s statutory duties in the following areas:
• The integration of different transport systems • Traffic management • Management of the bus network • Management of the Underground • The regulation and operation of taxis • Passenger safety and security
4.7 Potential areas in which the GLA will engage in cooperation to exchange best practice include: marketing and promotion strategies for major cities, promotion of tourism including the Miranda Museum, planning, housing, environment, waste disposal, community safety, transport, sanitation, waste management, river management, security and community monitoring, techniques for the education and enabling of adults, women’s rights and equality. Other areas of cooperation are to be evaluated.
4.8 Officers will meet their opposite numbers in Venezuela to develop these programmes of cooperation. Experts from Venezuela will also be invited to London to form their own view of where cooperation will be most helpful and to discuss with their opposite numbers areas of
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cooperation. Cooperation can take the form of technical assistance or exchange of best practice.
4.9 A number of trips have been undertaken in recent months to establish areas of co- operation in transport between London and Venezuela. This culminated in the trip by Peter Hendy in June. The conclusion of Peter Hendy was that the main areas of assistance were:
To assist with the creation of a organisational structure in Caracas capable of delivering the necessary transport improvements in an integrated manner To assist in the development of bus priority - there are no bus lanes in the city (or in Venezuela), although they will begin construction of a segregated busway soon To assist with the implementation of a urban traffic signal control centre To assist with improving intermodal interchange between the metro and other modes To advice on major highway improvements required to improve traffic flow.
In late September delegates from organisations within Venezuela will travel to London to review the approaches London has adopted in the above areas. This will be followed by a number of visits from TfL officials.
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PA to Head of Environment Environment May 2007 Head of Environment C40 Manager C40 Officer Sue Lovemore / Althea Dahl Shirley Rodrigues Simon Reddy Oliver Haugen (job share)
AQ, Energy & Climate Change Partnerships, Biodiversity, AW & Noise Waste Climate Change Adaptation & Projects & Mitigation Water Performance
Strategy Manager Strategy Manager Climate Change & Strategy Manager Strategy Manager Andy Deacon Water Andrew Jones Wayne Hubbard Alex Nickson
Principal Principal Principal Principal Principal Principal Principal Policy Officer Policy Officer Partnerships, Policy Officer Policy Officer Policy Officer Policy Officer Principal Principal Policy Officer (Water) Sustainable Projects & (Biodiversity) (Biodiversity) (Noise) - Waste Policy Officer Policy Officer Principal - Waste Design & Performance John Archer Ian Yarham Max Dixon - Waste (Climate Policy Officer David Strategy Strategy Construction Co-ordinator Management Change & (Air Quality) Hutchinson Development Implementation (new) Annette Pete Daw Energy) Sarah Legge Judy vacant Figueiredo Henderson * Syed Ahmed Senior Policy Senior Policy Senior Policy Water Officer Officer Officer Strategy London (Animal (Noise) Senior Policy Officer Climate (Biodiversity) Senior Policy Senior Policy Senior Policy Welfare) Alan Officer (EA Change Senior Policy Mike Waite Officer Officer Officer Job share Bloomfield (Waste) Senior Policy secondee) Partnership Officer (PPP) (Waste) (Waste) (Climate Natasha Andy Officer Natasha Manager Liz Charter Doug Kizzian Change & Fuchs / Richmond (Air Quality) Glennon Andrew Simpson Owen Energy) Sally Lucy Parkin Tucker ** Senior Policy Hamilton Job share Senior Policy Officer Tim Brooks Data (Biodiversity) Policy Officer Reycle for Officer (Waste) London Manager Richard (Waste) Julius Mattai Barnes Julie Oram x 2 posts Sophie Senior Policy Fran Evans 1) Ellie Officer Easteal London (job share) Russell (Air Quality) Energy David Partnership Vowles Senior Policy Manager Officer vacant Principal Policy (Biodiversity) Officer (Climate Jan Hewlett Change & Energy) (new) London LEP LEP Project * Maternity cover for Katherine Higgins LHP Project Hydrogen Project Manager ** Replaces Matthew Chell who is on secondment Manager Partnership Manager Senior Policy Officer Suzanne Danny Manager Paula (Climate Change & Le Miere Pizaro Zoe Kirk Energy) visiodocument Jennings (new)
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84 85 TfL Information
Budget Committee: Information Required on Energy Funding Contribution and Co-Operation Agreement with Venezuela
Information required from Peter Hendy, Commissioner, Transport for London (Appendix B of Budget Committee invite 19.10.07)
1.1 Regarding work in or for Venezuela
i) Records of visits made to Venezuela by TfL employees or contractors since the agreement was made
There have been two visits to Venezuela since the agreement was made:
1. The Commissioner’s Chief of Staff visited Caracas 3 – 7 June (2 days travel, 3 working days) to prepare for the Commissioner’s visit
2. Peter Hendy visited Caracas 20 – 24 June (2 days travel, 3 working days) to view transport conditions and proposed schemes, and to meet with transport officials from local, city and national government. The Commissioner was accompanied on this trip by the following staff from Transport for London: Commissioner’s Chief of Staff, Director of News, and a Press Officer (a Spanish speaker).
ii) Full itineraries and schedules of those visits
The itineraries of both the visits referred to above will be supplied to the Budget Committee by the Greater London Authority.
iii) All records of meetings and other business activities that took place on those visits
The majority of both visits was spent touring Caracas with transport officers, looking at schemes and problems. There were two inter-institutional meetings of the transport group; the agreed record will be provided when it is available.
The document ‘Presentaciones en materia de Planificacion Urbana y Transporte en el Area Metropolitana de Caracas’ (250 pages, Spanish) includes the 7 presentations given at the 22 June meeting and is available should the Committee require it.
iv) Documents containing plans for future activity by or on behalf of TfL to fulfil this agreement
The result of the Commissioner’s visit to Venezuela was the ‘Report of Commissioner for Transport for London: Areas of Co-operation in Transport between London and Venezuela’ which prioritises the areas of future activity (Appendix 1).
86 TfL Information v) Documents containing details of evaluation work and measurement of impact so far undertaken or planned for the advice provided under this agreement
The agreement is at too early a stage to evaluate the impact of advice given.
1.2 Regarding the London travel discount i) Figures on the number of people claiming the discount including any breakdowns of the take-up for example by area or type of claimant
The scheme was launched on 20 August 2007. By 27 October, after nearly ten weeks of operation, 47,000 applications for photocards had been received. More recent provisional data indicates take-up is in excess of 50,000. Some 4,000 new applications are currently being made each week. A breakdown of applications and numbers claiming income support by London Borough is given in Table 1. TfL did not request and does not hold any further breakdown of applicants. ii) Figures on the number of journeys made and tickets purchased using the discount including any available breakdowns such as by destination, mode, and time
In the four weeks to 13 October, an average of 46,000 bus and tram journeys (less than 1% on trams) were made each day using Discount Bus and Tram Passes. 19,000 bus and tram journeys were made using discounted pay as you go fares.
Over the same period 43,775 seven day and 674 monthly Discount Bus and Tram Passes were purchased. iii) The current expectations for future take-up in number of claimants and journeys, including how many additional journeys due to the lower cost of discounted travel are now expected to be made and what percentage of the bus network usage this represents
The operation of the discount scheme is at too early a stage to be able to provide accurate information on expectations for future take-up in number of claimants and journeys.
It is not known how many additional bus and tram journeys are being made by photocard holders as a result of the discount and it will never be possible to determine this precisely. iv) Details of work so far undertaken and planned to promote take-up and awareness of the discount
Publicity for the scheme commenced on 20 August 2007 with colour page advertisements appearing in the London editions of some national
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newspapers and full page advertisement appearing in disability and ethnic press. Inserts were placed in over 1 million London magazines and posters were also used.
Radio advertising ran on radio Heart, Kiss, Islam Radio, Spectrum, Capital, Sunrise, and Choice FM between August and October and advertisements have also been shown on TV screens in Post Offices.
Face-to-face leafleting has also been carried out.
Advertising activity is now scaling down but a further round of activity is scheduled for January. Take-up of the scheme is currently being monitored and future promotion will be reviewed and revised as necessary in the light of this.
v) Details of work so far undertaken and planned with Jobcentre Plus and the Post Office including any staff training
TfL maintains regular contacts with Jobcentre Plus. TfL has provided Jobcentre Plus with leaflets explaining the scheme, enabling them to pass this information on to claimants.
TfL has also provided briefing notes for the scheme to the Post Office which they have used to compile guidance for staff in Post Office branches. The Post Office has also provided a help line for their staff to provide answers to any queries that arise in dealing with claimants. The manual for staff will be updated and further information provided to the helpline as experience is gained with the scheme.
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Request for Financial Information under Section 110 of the GLA Act, 19.10.07 Annex
1.1 Regarding work in or for Venezuela
i) All costs of visits to Venezuela by TfL employees or contractors since the agreement was made, including: travel; accommodation; expenses; insurance; costs of staff time spent on the visit and preparing for it; costs of additional services or work required to cover for absent staff; other goods or services for the visit; any other costs.
Travel costs 5 return flights to Caracas: £13,550
Costs of accommodation The costs of accommodation: £3,069
Expenses The expenses claimed £1,117
Insurance No insurance in addition to the TfL standard overseas cover was taken out for the trip.
Costs of staff time spent on visit and preparing for the trips On the basis of a total of 6 days preparation and 25 days in Venezuela: £19,500
Costs of additional services or work required to cover for absent staff No additional services were required as the insignificant time away did not warrant the arrangement of cover. The Commissioner was in contact with his office for the entire time he was away.
Other goods or services for the visit None
Any other costs Cost of translating documents sent from Venezuela prior to the visit: £2,218
ii) All costs of any other activities undertaken or commissioned by TfL to fulfil the agreement In September a delegation of 12 people from Caracas visited London for a week to look at both strategic planning and technical aspects of TfL's work, covering the priority areas set out in the Commissioner’s report following his visit. The total cost to TfL was £16,595, of which £11,874 was on translating and £4,721 on travel and two meals for the party. The translating cost represented the time of two translators working for 5 days providing simultaneous translations (and the necessary equipment) and the translation of 11 presentations for the visit. As part of a reciprocal arrangement,
89 TfL Information simultaneous translations were provided for TfL’s visits to Caracas at no expense to TfL. The programme for the Venezuelan delegations visit is attached (Appendix 2) iii) Anticipated costs of any future activities to be undertaken or commissioned by TfL to fulfil the agreement A 12 month lease on an office in Caracas was completed at the end of July. The anticipated associated costs are as follows: Office set up costs Including legal costs and IT for office: £22,290 Running costs for 12 months (including rent, service charge): £35,200 (The GLA will contribute up to £15,000 towards these costs.)
Office staff (one full-time and one part-time), estimate: £42,000
As part of the next stage in the provision of technical advice as part of the Energy Funding Agreement, it is envisaged that staff from TfL will visit Caracas for short periods (e.g. 5 days) to offer more in-depth advice on the priority areas identified. The estimated costs of these visits are estimated at £4,000 per person per trip.
1.2 Regarding the London travel discount i) The costs so far and current projections of the lost revenue (MF to update) By 27 October an estimated £0.97m had been received from the sales of discounted half-fare Bus and Tram Passes and discounted bus Pay As You Go journeys. At full adult prices, the same travel would have cost £1.94m, i.e. twice the £0.97m. The reduction in fares revenue will have been less than £0.97m, if it is assumed that part of the discounted travel made has been generated by the scheme.
Operational costs of additional journeys These are not considered to be material. No additional services are being operated to cater for any additional journeys which cardholders may be making.
Costs of promoting the discount Publicity for the scheme commenced on 20 August 2007 and, to date, about £600k has been spent on media advertising, which is reclaimable from the diesel subsidy.
Costs of administering and implementing the discount Producing and distributing photocards and application forms, paying the Post Office for issuing the photocards and additional back office activity in developing systems and data capture has cost around £250,000 to date. The full first year cost of these activities is projected as £650,000, which is reclaimable under the agreement.
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Overall it is believed that the total costs of the scheme, including revenue foregone, marketing and administration, will be broadly as originally projected at up to £15m.
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Table 1: Percentage of Bus and Tram discount scheme applicants by Borough Total Photocard Income applications Support by 25/10/07 Claimants
Haringey 16,690 3,035 City of London 160 30 Hackney 18,390 3,102 Ealing 14,080 2,291 Lambeth 18,690 2,815 Islington 15,690 2,384 Newham 18,340 2,547 Wandsworth 11,005 1,546 Waltham 12,535 1,656 Forest Hounslow 9,755 1,298 Brent 15,040 2,111 Enfield 15,515 2,213 Hillingdon 9,325 1,155 Hammersmith 9,935 1,344 and Fulham Croydon 14,865 1,725 Redbridge 9,885 1,218 Tower Hamlets 15,775 1,835 Southwark 17,880 2,089 Barnet 11,985 1,457 Merton 5,635 606 Greenwich 14,570 1,610 Harrow 7,020 824 Camden 13,395 1,575 Westminster 11,515 1,260 Barking and 11,155 1,241 Dagenham Richmond 3,750 387 upon Thames Lewisham 15,915 1,652 Kensington 7,025 679 and Chelsea Sutton 5,090 413 Kingston upon 3,560 311 Thames Bromley 8,595 622 Bexley 6,630 457 Havering 6,760 403 Total 376,155 47,891 IS claimant numbers as at August 2006 Majority of IS claimants on incapacity benefits not in scope as already getting Freedom Pass
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REPORT OF COMMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Areas of Co-operation in Transport between London and Venezuela
1. Introduction
1.1 I visited Venezuela on 20-24 June 2007, as Commissioner of Transport for London (TfL).
1.2 During the visit I had the opportunity to view a number of transport projects and meet experts from various national, regional and local transport bodies. I was impressed by their ability and dedication and this was reflected in the innovative ideas and projects which were being discussed.
1.3 This report summarises my conclusions from the trip with regard to the possible areas of co-operation within the framework of the London – Venezuela Cooperation Agreement.
1.4 On 22 June, a high level meeting was convened, which was attended by high-level representation of the transport organisations. The object of the meeting was to discuss areas where London could assist through expertise and advice.
1.5 On the basis of the presentations given at this meeting, at which the organisations identified their priorities for technical assistance, and my discussions and visits to sites of various transport proposals I identified the following five priority areas for TfL to provide technical advice during the first year of the Cooperation agreement:
• Metropolitan Transport Plan and Organisation • Traffic Signal Control Centre* • Bus Interchanges and Terminals* • Bus Priority* • Major Highway Improvements
*These three areas to be subject to of a technical delegation from Venezuela in September 2007.
1.6 I will address each of these in turn and also identify some additional areas where co-operation could be considered.
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2. Metropolitan Transport Plan and Organisation
2.1 Almost all of the organisations represented at the meeting stated that the development of a metropolitan transport plan for Caracas was a top priority.
2.2 Our own experience, and that of other major cities, indicates that it is essential that any transport plan is developed in conjunction with an integrated land use planning strategy for the wider Caracas area. If housing and employment objectives are to be achieved, then transport proposals must be developed in parallel to provide adequate access and capacity to those areas earmarked for expansion.
2.3 Currently, a number of organisations at different levels are progressing land use and transport plans independently of one another. This makes it difficult to establish strategic priorities for the wider Caracas area, and consequently, to deliver those projects that best meet these priorities. This will result in piecemeal implementation of projects, with a lack of integration between modes and organisations.
2.4 In order to give greater clarity in this area I would recommend that a single organisation to assume sole responsibility for managing the development and implementation of a long-term land use and transport plan. This body would be responsible for establishing priorities (following consultation with all relevant parties), agreeing business cases, allocating funding and managing interactions between the different organisations. TfL can advise on the structure of this body if required.
2.5 The main functions of this body would include: • Develop a long term development and land use plan for wider Caracas; • Develop a long term transport plan consistent with this development plan; • Establish a prioritised transport implementation plan including timelines for action; • Develop a transport investment plan to cover funding over the period in question; and • Co-ordinate the organisations responsible for implementation of the plan.
2.6 The last point in very important, as a crucial role will be to ensure that the projects are developed in a compatible way and that the maximum benefit is obtained from major upgrades to the transport system.
2.7 The body responsible for the long-term transport plan will require sufficient expertise across a range of technical areas, including: land use planning, transport planning, project management and financial management in order for it to successfully meet its objectives. It also requires sufficient financial resources in order to develop the long-term transport plan and to fund the projects contained within it.
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2.8 London has considerable experience in the development of planning (the London Plan) and transport strategies (Mayor’s Transport Strategy). Furthermore, Transport for London is currently implementing a US$25 billion investment programme to deliver the projects contained in the Transport Strategy. Transport for London can provide advice on developing a transport plan for Caracas and in the establishment of the functions necessary to manage project delivery if required.
3. Traffic Signal Control Centre
3.1 Car use in Caracas has increased rapidly in recent years. This has led to the inevitable growth in congestion, with even short journeys taking some considerable time by both car and bus. The dense urban development in the centre of the city and in many other areas means that road building to ease congestion is not a practical solution. In these areas other measures will be required to make the best possible use of existing roads to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
3.2 Effective use of traffic signals is crucial to achieve this. Currently, most of the 500 plus traffic signals in Caracas operate independently of one another and do not have the capability to adjust their timings according to changes in traffic flow. Integrated traffic signal systems were installed in Libertador and Chacao in the late 1990s, although, these only cover a small number of signals and the technology adopted is now out of date. This means that their ability to deal with existing traffic levels is severely limited.
3.3 Both Libertador and Sucre identified the development of an urban traffic signal control system as a top priority for the London-Venezuela Cooperation Agreement. Furthermore, in their presentation to the transport and planning group INMETRA stressed the importance of real time traffic information as part of an integrated system. A good urban traffic control system will optimise the signal timings, which will reduce congestion and at the same time give greater pedestrian crossing opportunities.
3.4 Libertador have already undertaken a feasibility study to identify the requirements for such a system. Sucre are also keen to implement a system in their area but are at an earlier stage in the development process.
3.5 Transport for London is responsible for all of London’s 4600 traffic signals, which are managed through the London Traffic Control Centre. As part of the London-Venezuela Cooperation Agreement Transport for London will advise the relevant authorities on the development, implementation and management of urban traffic control systems.
3.6 I would propose that in the first instance technical representatives of Sucre, Libertador and INMETRA visit London to assimilate information
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on the urban traffic control system adopted in London. If it would prove helpful this will be followed a visit to Caracas by experts from Transport for London to review the proposals to be developed.
4. Bus Interchanges and Terminals
4.1 A number of organisations stated that there was an urgent need to improve public transport interchanges, and in particular the co-ordination between the metro system and the bus network. The main priorities put forward were: • A new bus terminal integrated with the metro at Petare (Mun. Sucre) • A new bus terminal integrated with the proposed metro station at Guerenas (Municipal Plaza) • Construction of a bus terminal at Rio Tuy (INMETRA)
4.2 During the course of my visit other interchange proposals were also discussed, and these will be considered on an ongoing basis as part of the London-Venezuela Co-operation Agreement.
Petare 4.3 The area around Petare metro station exhibits high levels of pedestrian flow (more than 12,000 in the peak hour) and a high volume of traffic. This results in severe congestion and safety problems. These problems are further amplified by the fact that the carriageway is used as a waiting area for buses and by passengers waiting to board their bus.
4.4 Municipal Sucre have proposed the construction of a bus terminal adjacent to the metro station on land currently being used by the Metro as Metrobus workshop. This location is ideal for an interchange of this type as it will significantly reduce the number of buses waiting on the street and will improve safety for passengers interchanging between bus and metro.
4.5 I would strongly recommend that this project is taken forward and that discussions between Metro de Caracas and Municipal Sucre are established in relation to relocating the Metrobus workshop. Transport for London will work with Municipal Sucre to advise on the development of the scheme.
Guaranes 4.6 An extension of the Metro to Guarenas and Guatire is currently being planned with a view to be operational by 2012. It is essential that the planning of this extension adequately incorporate bus/metro interchanges at the key locations. If this is not the case then the buses will be forced to wait on the road, which will inevitably lead to an a reduction in the capacity of the road network and an increase in congestion. Pedestrian safety will also be compromised. There are currently no proposals to implement a bus/metro interchange at this location.
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4.7 I would recommend that Metro de Caracas work closely with Municipal Plaza to develop, design and implement intermodal interchanges in this area. I visited one of the potential locations of a metro station in Guarenas and consider that an excellent bus/metro interchange could be constructed at this location.
4.8 Transport for London will work with the Metro and the municipalities to advise on the design and operation of these interchanges. Similar issues have also arisen in Guatire and Transport for London would also be happy to work with Municipal Zamora regarding future bus/metro interchange improvements in their area.
Rio Tuy 4.9 A number of bus routes (27) currently wait for passengers on the roads surrounding Plaza Caracas, notably Este 6 and Este 8. This reduces the available capacity for circulating traffic, leading to increased congestion.
4.10 To solve this problem INMETRA have proposed the reorganisation of the bus network in this area by the conversion of a former underground car park within Plaza Caracas to the Rio Tuy bus terminal. All buses terminating in the area around Plaza Caracas will be required to use this terminal, which will remove the large number of buses waiting on the road and provide a more controlled environment for passengers to board and alight.
4.11 Transport for London will work with INMETRA in the development of this scheme. If this has not already been undertaken a useful first step would be to elicit the views of passengers to these proposals. This will help establish the requirements of the scheme and ensure that the proposals best meet the needs of the users.
4.12 I would propose that the next step is for technical representatives of Sucre, Libertador and INMETRA to visit London to assimilate information on the design and operation of public transport interchanges adopted in London. If it would prove helpful this will be followed a visit to Caracas by experts from Transport for London to review the proposals to be developed.
5. Bus Priority
5.1 From the experience in other cities worldwide, bus priority is shown to be effective in speeding up bus journeys and in encouraging people to switch from cars to public transport. Currently, no bus priority schemes exist in Caracas, although phase 1 of the BusCaracas will soon begin construction. TfL can offer advice and assistance on future phases of the project if this is required.
Bus Caracas
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5.2 During my visit I was able to travel along this route and discuss the proposals with the engineers responsible for the scheme. I consider this to be an excellent scheme that has been well thought out and well designed.
5.3 This scheme is the first of six proposed phases. Design work has yet to commence on the other phases. However, to ensure that new bus priority schemes continue to be implemented at a rapid pace I would advise that funding is provided as soon as possible. This will enable design work for phase 2 to commence soon after construction begins on the first phase. Construction of phase 2 could then begin as soon as phase 1 is operational.
5.4 TfL has produced a report on Bus Caracas which I will send under a separate cover. TfL can offer further assistance on the detailed issues raised in this report, but this should not hold up the implementation of this excellent scheme. TfL can work with Municipal Libertador to assist on further stages of this project.
Caracas Insugente 5.5 The Metro has demonstrated that a fast, reliable, safe and high quality public transport system can be successful and is a suitable alternative to bus and car. The success of Line 1 is clear, but this has led to high levels of overcrowding. Line 1 is at capacity. The Metro are working on a number of proposed enhancements, but these will take a number of years to implement. Improvements to the public transport system on this corridor need to be in place much more quickly.
5.6 INMETRA is currently undertaking an early feasibility study into a cross- city bus priority scheme (Caracas Insurgente). Two routes are proposed: • Route 1 – Catia – Petare, which will provide a trunk route across the city from East to West. • Route 2 – Petare – Prados del Este y Cafetal, which follows route 1 until Chacaoito where it runs in a south and south-westerly direction.
5.7 Within Libertador, Route 1 follows two of the proposed extensions to the Bus Caracas project. Careful consideration needs to be given to how this scheme is developed and how it can be integrated with other bus priority schemes being proposed elsewhere.
5.8 Transport for London will work with INMETRA and the municipalities in the development of such a bus priority plan. It will also share knowledge on the development of the bus priority programme in London. I would propose that in the first instance technical representatives of Sucre, Libertador and INMETRA visit London to review the design and operation of bus priority in London. If it would prove useful this should be followed a visit to Caracas by experts from Transport for London to review the proposals to be developed
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6. Major Highway Improvements – Fco. Farajdo
6.1 Within the state of Miranda significant urban development is taking place and this is planned to continue for the foreseeable future. Serious congestion currently exists on many of the major roads within the state and additional development will further increase pressure on the road network.
6.1 At the transport meeting Miranda State presented a number of highway options to improve the connection between some of the main urban centres and to upgrade a number of major intersections.
6.2 Transport for London can offer advice to Miranda State on the options they are considering if this is needed.
7 Other Areas of Cooperation
7.1 Public Transport Safety
7.1.1 Passenger safety is vital to further encourage the switch from car to public transport. There are significant opportunities to improve the level of reassurance and safety on the surface public transport network through improved policing and technology.
7.1.2 Transport for London has already implemented a package of such measures, which include: • CCTV on 8000 buses • CCTV at interchanges • Help points at interchanges • Communication systems on buses that allow the driver to call for assistance
7.1.3 Transport for London would be happy to provide advice on these matters. As an initial step Transport for London will provide details of the systems in operation in London. Following this TfL can host a visit to London to fully appraise the technical officers from the authorities in Caracas of the approach adopted in London.
7.2 Regulation and Enforcement of on-street Parking
7.2.1 On routes where capacity is limited and traffic levels are high, inappropriate parking reduces the available space for moving traffic, leading to a significant worsening in congestion.
7.2.2 An effective strategy to deal with this issue is essential. This should include parking of vehicles, loading and unloading of goods and the boarding and alighting of bus passengers. The objective of such regulations is to optimise the traffic flow along the key routes, whilst meeting the needs of businesses and public transport users. A more regularised approach to parking, servicing and bus stopping patterns
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can do this, but the regulations will only be successful if they are properly enforced.
7.2.3 Transport for London has established such regulatory controls across the 580 km of roads that it is responsible for. These represent the busiest roads in London carrying over a third of all traffic in London. Transport for London enforce these regulations using on-street patrols employed by the Metropolitan Police Service and cameras managed by their own staff.
7.2.4 Transport for London will work with the relevant organisations to advise them on the development of such traffic regulations and mechanisms for their enforcement. I would propose that in the first instance technical representatives of Sucre, Libertador and INMETRA visit London to review the system adopted in London.
7.3 Access to the Barrios
7.3.1 Metro de Caracas is already developing a series of projects, using unconventional modes, such as cable cars, to link points in the barrios to the Metro system. The San Agustin cable car is currently under construction and is expected to be operational by early 2008. Further locations are being considered, which include: Ciudad Socialista Camino de Los Indios; Ciudad Mariche; Petare Norte; Petare Sur; El Guarataro; Macuto-El Ávila; El Valle.
7.3.2 It is essential that the best possible interchange between these systems and the main public transport system is established. This should not only consider the linkage to the Metro but also the bus network. Transport for London can advise the relevant organisations in the development of such interchanges between these unconventional modes and the bus and Metro system
7.3.3 Furthermore, improving access to the points of entry to these modes within the barrios is vital. The Metro and the municipalities need to work together to investigate measures that could be put in place within the barrios to help achieve this.
7.4 Mototaxis
7.4.1 In recent years there has been a rapid rise in the number of mototaxis operating within Caracas. This indicates that there is a demand for their services. However, concern has been expressed about the safety of the vehicles and drivers and the location of their ranks.
7.4.2 Transport for London currently licenses over 60,000 cab drivers and 55,000 vehicles. We have recently been through the process of regulating the previously unregulated minicab trade which involves 35,000 vehicles and drivers and 2,300 companies. This has posed issues of driver and company integrity, vehicle quality and training.
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This experience may well have useful lessons for Caracas. Transport for London will share with the authorities in Venezuela their experience of this matter and the work that they have undertaken to date.
7.5 Fares
7.5.1 Fares are a critical factor in influencing transport behaviour. An integrated fare system does not currently exist for the surface transport system, hence people that need to make several changes have to pay separately for each leg of the trip. In whether to use public transport and in the selection of mode and route taken price etc is an important consideration. People often base their journey on the overall cost rather than the quickest journey. The pricing structure is further complicated by the unusual fact that it is more expensive to use buses than the Metro.
7.5.2 The current structure of the bus industry in Caracas makes the integration of fares very difficult. However, the further development of bus priority projects, such as BusCaracas, which make use of feeder routes, may help to make this possible. In the longer term as these bus projects begin to develop, Transport for London can advise the authorities on the development of a more integrated fares structure for Caracas.
7.6 Other areas
7.6.1 Issues relating to urban realm and environment will be covered as part of the other strands of cooperation.
8. Short Term Projects
8.1 The Transport and Planning co-ordination group presented two projects for implementation over in the short term. These were: • Congestion reduction measures along specific public transport corridors; and • Pedestrian safety measures at public transport interchanges
8.2 It is proposed that the congestion reduction measures will be initially targeted at three locations: Av Fransisco de Miranda (Municipal Sucre), Av Urdeneta (Municipal Libertador) and Av Baralt (Municipal Libertador). The measures will comprise: • coordination of traffic signals along the route; • the creation of marked bus stops and bus shelters along the route; and • enforcement of parking and loading/unloading regulations
8.3 Furthermore, this package of measures will act as a pilot for a further roll out of these and other measures across the network. For example, urban traffic control systems, better interchanges and improved enforcement and the regulation of bus stopping patterns (as stated in the
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previous sections) should all combine together to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
8.4 It is proposed to implement pedestrian safety measures at four locations: Redoma de Petare (Municipal Sucre); La California (Municipal Sucre); Terminal Trapichito (Municipal Plaza) and Terminal Guatire (Municipal Zamora). The measures proposed include traffic signalling, signing, guard railing and improvements to the pavements.
8.5 I visited the locations where the proposed congestion reduction and pedestrian safety measures are to be implemented. These projects are clearly needed, and when implemented, should help to reduce traffic congestion along three routes and improve pedestrian safety at five locations. Transport for London will work with the organisations involved once funding for these projects has been confirmed
9 Next Steps
9.1 This report highlights a range of areas for joint work, as part of the London-Venezuela Cooperation Agreement. These are discussed in the previous sections.
9.2 I am keen to take forward joint work in these areas as a matter of priority. As a first step, I would like to invite a technical delegation from Caracas to London to exchange ideas and information with their counterparts in each of the areas listed above.
9.3 In order to maximise the effectiveness of the technical visit I would recommend that the size of the delegation is limited to no more than 10- 12 people, with up to three representatives from MINFRA, Libertador, Sucre and the Mayor of Caracas. Priority should be given to these organisations. However, I am sure that further delegations will follow as other organisations take forward schemes in their areas.
9.4 I would recommend that this visit takes place in the last week of September,. A detailed itinery will be worked up in advance of the trip, however, the following areas should be included:
• Day 1 – Overview of transport in London and the development of transport and planning strategies and plans • Day 2 – Urban Traffic Control Systems and the London Traffic Control Centre • Day 3 - Bus Priority schemes and design in London • Day 4 – Interchange schemes and design in London • Day 5 – Parking regulations and enforcement/Public Transport Safety
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Visit by representatives of the London-Venezuela Co-operation Agreement
Week commencing Monday 24 September 2007
Programme & Contact details
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Names of Guests x 11
Nestor Lopez Title Diana Gongora Title Jose Menendez Title Rafael Argotty Title Alexis Moros Title Rosa Ocana Title Gonzalo Tovar Title Coromoto Mirabal Title Luis Laplace Title Marisela González Tolosa Title Álvaro Sánchez Title
The guests will arrive on Saturday 22 September (Flight LH4726 ) and will stay at the
Premier Travel Inn London County Hall Belvedere Road London SE1 7PB Telephone: 0870 238 3300
The party will leave London on Day/Date on Flight xxxxxxxxx
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DAY 1 MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
09.00 Assemble in Hotel reception Met by Steve NEWSOME, Head of International & European Affairs, TfL/Emily HERRERAS-GRIFFITHS, Press Officer, TfL and escorted to City Hall, Committee Room 2
10.00 Welcome by Kevin AUSTIN, Head of Transport, GLA and Sam RICHARDS, Chief of Staff – Office of the Commissioner, TfL outline of the week’s visit and London governance and questions
10.30 Outline of the London Plan and questions by Debbie MCMULLEN, Head of London Plan Team, GLA
11.00 Coffee Break
11.15 Presentation on strategic Transport Planning and related issues and questions by Elaine SEAGRIFF, Head of Policy and Strategy, TfL and Mike KEEGAN, Transport Strategy & Cross Modal Policies Manager, TfL
13.00 Light Lunch
14.00 Depart for private bus tour
16.30 Drop off at Hotel
17.30 Pick up at Hotel
18.00 Official welcome from Peter HENDY, Commissioner for Transport, TfL Hot buffet reception at 10th Floor, 55 Broadway, London Underground Headquarters
19.30 Reception ends Guests escorted back to Hotel
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Peter Hendy Commissioner of Transport Tranport for London July 2007
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DAY 2 TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER
09.30 Assemble in Hotel reception Met by Steve NEWSOME/Emily HERRERAS- GRIFFITHS and escorted to London Transport Museum, Covent Garden
10.00 Welcome by Stephen PALMER, Head of Strategy and Business Planning, TfL, bus priority and outline of the day
10.20 Presentation on Bus Stop and Bus Garage Infrastructure by Chris KERSHAW, Head of Infrastructure, TfL
10.40 Coffee Break
11.00 Presentation on i-Bus by Kate MYERS, Technical Services Group (TSG) Communications Manager, TfL
11.20 Presentation on Selective Vehicle Detection (SVD)by Tony BOWEN, SVD Planning and Delivery Manager, TfL
11.40 Presentation on Bus Service Planning by John BARRY, Head of Network Development, TfL
12.10 Itinerary for afternoon visit by Stephen PALMER, Head of Strategy and Business Planning, TfL
12.30 Lunch
13.30 Meet and board bus for tour of strategic sights around London including Stamford Hill Bus Garage and Finsbury Park Bus and Train station
17.30 Visit ends Guests escorted back to Hotel
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DAY 3 WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
08.30 Assemble in Hotel reception Met by Steve NEWSOME/Emily HERRERAS- GRIFFITHS and escorted on bus to 25 Eccleston Place Boardroom
09.00 Welcome by Phil DAVIES, Director of Traffic Operations, TfL and the following presentations:
Introduction by Tony EARL, Head of Urban Traffic Control (UTC), TfL
Outline of Directorate of Traffic Operations by Phil DAVIES and Steven KEMP, Head of Traffic Infrastructure, TfL
Red Routes by Steven KEMP
10.30 Coffee Break
10.45 Presentations:
Modern Traffic Signal Control by Tim PIPER, Principal Traffic Control Engineer, TfL
Urban Traffic Control Strategies by Neil ADAMS, Chief Engineer – UTC Network Operations, TfL
12.30 Summary and Outline of Site Visit by Tony EARL, Head of Urban Traffic Control (UTC), TfL and Paul GLOVER, Development Requirements Manager – UTC Network Operations, TfL
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Depart for Site visit to London Traffic Control Centre Viewing Gallery and the following presentations:
Supporting the Network by Jason ROBINSON, Chief Engineer – UTC Network Operations, TfL
Network Optimisation by Neil ADAMS, Chief Engineer – UTC Network Operations, TfL
15.00 Refreshments
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15.30 Presentation on London Traffic Control Centre (LTCC) by Esmon GEORGE, LTCC Operations Manager, TfL
16.00 Visit ends Guests escorted back to Hotel
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DAY 4 THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
08.45 Assemble in Hotel reception Met by Steve NEWSOME/Emily HERRERAS- GRIFFITHS and escorted to South Bank Room, 19th Floor, Portland House
09.30 Welcome by John MCNULTY, Interchange Programme Director, TfL presentation and Question and Answer
11.00 Coffee Break
11.30 Depart for Site Visit to Vauxhall Cross Interchange
12.00 Summary and Outline of Site Visit by John MCNULTY
13.15 Lunch
14.15 Depart for the Jubilee Line Extension (from Victoria change at Westminster)
15.30 Visit Canada Water and Canning Town stations on the way to Stratford Station
16.30 Wrap up Question and Answer at Stratford Underground Station
17.00 Return via DLR, change at Canary Wharf for Jubilee Line Visit ends Guests escorted back to Hotel
19.00 Assemble in Hotel reception Met by Steve NEWSOME/Emily HERRERAS- GRIFFITHS and escorted to National Café, National Gallery, St Martins Place entrance
19.30 Dinner at National Café Hosted by Peter HENDY, Commissioner for Transport, TfL
110 TfL Information: Appendix 2
DAY 5 FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
08.45 Assemble in Hotel reception Met by Steve NEWSOME/Emily HERRERAS- GRIFFITHS and escorted to 200 Buckingham Palace Road Conference Room
09.30 Welcome by Jeroen WEIMAR, Director of Transport Policing and Enforcement, TfL and presentation
10.00 Site Visit to see bus fare evasion operation on Vauxhall Bridge Road and witness on-street traffic enforcement operation
11.25 Room 507B, King’s Buildings, Smith Square - Welcome and refreshments
11.45 Tour of the facility and presentation on technology by Patrick TROY, Head of Traffic Enforcement, TfL
12.45 Lunch
14.00 Delegation de-brief hosted by Sam RICHARDS, Chief of Staff – Office of the Commissioner, TfL and Kevin AUSTIN, Head of Transport, GLA
16.00 Visit ends Guests escorted back to Hotel
111 a=. r*. B-- -=- - .. *= 8 .& - ::* LONDONji'k.wii!-tkJ- ; ?-{ Finance and Performance City Hall The Queen's Walk More London London SE1 2AA Switchboard: 020 7983 4000 Minicom: 020 7983 41 57 Web: www.london.gov.uk Sally Hamwee AM Deputy Chair of the Budget Committee Our ref: hamwee021 107 London Assembly Date: 2 November 2007 City Hall The Queen's Walk More London London SEl 2AA
Dear Sally
Energy Funding Contribution and Co-operation Agreement
Thank you for your letter of 19 October 2007.
On 20 February 2007 the Mayor signed the Energy Funding Contribution and Co- operation Agreement. The table below provides a breakdown of expenditure incurred by the GLA from its work on the Agreement in the period since it was signed. There have been five trips to Venezuela involving CLA officers since the Agreement was signed - one in March 2007, two in June 2007, one in September 2007 and one taking place this week (for which costs have yet to be recorded).
-wVJJY 2W6/07 [a m7fW [a Total 49
Translation services 5,069 1,170 6,239 --2 <.-" - _-.- .- <" - * -"- - ". - Travel'&-accommodation 2,902 32,560 35,462
Hospitality - 126 126
Total 7,971 33,856 41,827
On staff time, it is estimated that CLA officers have spent 60 days of their time on this work in total at a cost of approximately 1524,000.This estimate is based on the number of days spent by officers in Caracas with some preparatory time also built in.
Direct telephone: 020 7983 4435 Fax: 020 7983 4241 Email: [email protected] 112 In terms of future budget commitments: TfL is responsible for the office in Caracas. The CLA will contribute up to f 15,000 per annum towards the running costs of the office
The CLA has allocated £1 00,000 to the direct costs arising from this work from its Project Development Fund. This sum covers both 2006/07 and 2007/08. To date £62,211 has been spent.
Yours sincerely
/ ! - Martin Clarke Executive Director
Cc: Ian Williamson - Scrutiny Manager John Barry - Committee Co-ordinator
113