Division 44 Environment and Infrastructure Sector project "Transport Policy Advice" Sustainable Transport: A Sourcebook for Policy-makers in Developing Cities Module 3a Mass Transit Options – revised July 2005 – OVERVIEW OF THE SOURCEBOOK Sustainable Transport: A Sourcebook for Policy-Makers in Developing Cities What is the Sourcebook? Modules and contributors ThisSourcebook on Sustainable Urban Transport Sourcebook Overview and Cross-cutting Issues of addresses the key areas of a sustainable transport Urban Transport (GTZ) policy framework for a developing city. The Institutional and policy orientation Sourcebook consists of more than 20 modules. 1a. The Role of Transport in Urban Development Who is it for? Policy (Enrique Peñalosa) The Sourcebook is intended for policy-makers in developing cities, and their advisors. This target 1b. Urban Transport Institutions (Richard Meakin) audience is reflected in the content, which 1c. Private Sector Participation in Transport Infra- provides policy tools appropriate for application structure Provision (Christopher Zegras, MIT) in a range of developing cities. 1d. Economic Instruments How is it supposed to be used? (Manfred Breithaupt, GTZ) The Sourcebook can be used in a number of 1e. Raising Public Awareness about Sustainable ways. It should be kept in one location, and the Urban Transport (Karl Fjellstrom, GTZ) different modules provided to officials involved Land use planning and demand management in urban transport. The Sourcebook can be easily adapted to fit a formal short course training 2a. Land Use Planning and Urban Transport event, or can serve as a guide for developing a (Rudolf Petersen, Wuppertal Institute) curriculum or other training program in the 2b. Mobility Management (Todd Litman, VTPI) area of urban transport. GTZ is elaborating Transit, walking and cycling training packages for selected modules, being 3a. Mass Transit Options available since October 2004. (Lloyd Wright, University College London; What are some of the key features? Karl Fjellstrom, GTZ) The key features of the Sourcebook include: 3b. Bus Rapid Transit A practical orientation, focusing on best (Lloyd Wright, University College London) practices in planning and regulation and, 3c. Bus Regulation & Planning (Richard Meakin) where possible, successful experience in 3d. Preserving and Expanding the Role of Non- developing cities. motorised Transport (Walter Hook, ITDP) Contributors are leading experts in their fields. 3e. Car-Free Development An attractive and easy-to-read, color layout. (Lloyd Wright, University College London) Non-technical language (to the extent Vehicles and fuels possible), with technical terms explained. 4a. Cleaner Fuels and Vehicle Technologies Updates via the Internet. (Michael Walsh; Reinhard Kolke, How do I get a copy? Umweltbundesamt – UBA) Please visit http://www.sutp.org or http://www. 4b. Inspection & Maintenance and Roadworthiness gtz.de/transport for details on how to order a (Reinhard Kolke, UBA) copy. The Sourcebook is not sold for profit. Any charges imposed are only to cover the cost of 4c. Two- and Three-Wheelers(Jitendra Shah, printing and distribution. You may also order World Bank; N.V. Iyer, Bajaj Auto) via [email protected]. 4d. Natural Gas Vehicles (MVV InnoTec) Comments or feedback? 4e. Intelligent Transport Systems (Phil Sayeg, TRA; We would welcome any of your comments or Phil Charles, University of Queensland) suggestions, on any aspect of the Sourcebook, by 4f. EcoDriving (VTL; Manfred Breithaupt, e-mail to [email protected], or by surface mail to: Oliver Eberz, GTZ) Manfred Breithaupt Environmental and health impacts GTZ, Division 44 5a. Air Quality Management (Dietrich Schwela, P. O. Box 5180 World Health Organisation) D - 65726 Eschborn / Germany 5b. Urban Road Safety (Jacqueline Lacroix, DVR; Further modules and resources David Silcock, GRSP) Further modules are anticipated in the areas of Financing Urban Transport; Benchmarking; and 5c. Noise and its Abatement Car Free Development. Additional resources are (Civic Exchange Hong Kong; GTZ; UBA) being developed, and an Urban Transport Photo Resources CD-ROM is available. 6. Resources for Policy-makers (GTZ) Module 3a Mass Transit Options Findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this document are based on infor- mation gathered by GTZ and its consultants, partners, and contributors from reliable sources. GTZ does not, however, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information in this document, and cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or losses which emerge from its use. Authors: Lloyd Wright (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy) and Karl Fjellstrom (GTZ) About the contributors With additional contributions from Armin Wagner and helpful review comments on the Bangkok TheInstitute for Transportation and Develop- Skytrain system by Phil Sayeg of Policy Appraisal ment Policy (ITDP) was established in 1985 Services Pty Ltd. to promote transport options that are environ- Editor: mentally, economically, and socially sustainable. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH ITDP is an international non-governmental P. O. Box 5180 organisation that particularly focuses upon the D - 65726 Eschborn, Germany http://www.gtz.de promotion of public transport, non-motorised transport, travel demand management, and Division 44, Environment and Infrastructure improved land-use planning. ITDP works Sector Project "Transport Policy Advice" exclusively in developing countries and econo- Commissioned by mies in transition, where the consequences of Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) inadequate basic mobility are the most keenly Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40 felt, and where the adverse social and environ- D - 53113 Bonn, Germany http://www.bmz.de mental effects of rapid motorisation are causing the greatest economic and environmental prob- Manager: lems. To fulfil its mission, ITDP has three core Manfred Breithaupt activities: Editing: Manfred Breithaupt (I) Catalysing demonstration projects with progressive municipalities; Cover photo: Karl Fjellstrom (II) Communicating successful options and Bangkok’s Victory Monument, Dec. 2001 technical information; and Layout: (III) Encouraging better policy making at the Klaus Neumann, SDS, G.C. local, national, and multi-lateral levels. Eschborn 2002 (revised July 2005) i 1. Introduction 1 4.2 Planning & construction time 20 Project development and planning 20 Construction 20 2. Mass Rapid Transit concepts 2 4.3 Passenger capacity 22 2.1 Terminology 2 4.4 Flexibility 23 2.2 Defining features of MRT 3 4.5 Speed 24 Use of space 3 4.6 Institutional capacity for Speed and passenger capacity 3 successful implementation 24 Integration 4 The scope of the challenge 24 Level of service 4 Role of the private sector 25 2.3 The strategic importance of Supportive policy setting 25 MRT systems 4 4.7 Long term influence on city development 26 3. Current applications in MRT and city form 26 developing cities 5 MRT and development 26 3.1 Bus Rapid Transit 5 4.8 Poverty alleviation 27 Latin American experience 6 4.9 Environmental impact 27 Asian experience 8 North American experience 9 5. Conclusion 29 European experience 10 Australian and New Zealand programs 10 Resource materials 30 3.2 Light Rail Transit 11 Current applications 11 LRT and Metro lines in Shanghai 11 3.3 Metros 12 The Bangkok Skytrain (BTS) 13 3.4 Commuter rail 15 Current applications 15 4. Comparison on key parameters 16 4.1 Cost 16 Positive experience with concessioning of commuter rail services 16 Capital costs for rail-based MRT 17 Capital costs for Bus Rapid Transit 18 Operating costs 18 Rolling stock 19 Public finances 20 ii Module 3a: Mass Transit Options 1. Introduction leading consideration is cost (including cost of construction, rolling stock, and operation); Choices on public transit options are choices others include planning & construction time, about a city’s future. Will there be congestion? flexibility in implementation, passenger capacity, Will there be high levels of air and noise pollu- speed, and institutional issues. Longer term tion? Will transport be affordable? Will services effects on poverty, city form, and the environ- be available to all? The type of public transit ment are also assessed. In terms of maintaining system will have a big impact on the answers to a transit-friendly city form and ensuring the these questions (Figure 1). urban poor have access to employment, contacts This module aims to provide policy-makers in and services, a crucial factor when comparing developing cities—and those advising them— systems is the potential for a Mass Rapid Tran- with guidance on choosing appropriate Mass sit system to secure long term advances—or at Rapid Transit (MRT) systems. The module least stabilisation—in the share of people travel- begins by briefly describing some basic concepts ling by public rather than private transport. and defining features of MRT in developing cities. Current applications of each of the main “Choices on transit options are MRT options are then described, focusing on choices about a city’s future.” applications in developing cities. Since Metros and Light Rail Transit are still relatively un- The module ends with a discussion of what the common in low income developing cities, most comparison of the different options reveals. It is of this discussion focuses on the recent develop- seen that although there is no single MRT solu- ment of Bus Rapid Transit systems throughout tion fitting all cities,