Thailand Transport Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map

This sector assessment, strategy, and road map (ASR) represents the current assessment and strategic investment priorities of the Government of Thailand and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Thailand’s transport sector. It highlights sector performance, needs, constraints, and present government plans and strategies. The ASR will be linked to the ADB country partnership strategy (CPS) for Thailand, 2012–2016. It is also aligned with the vision and strategies of the country’s draft 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan, 2012–2016.1 This ASR may need to be updated in accordance with any changes in government policy during the finalization of the 11th Plan. This ASR focuses on three transport subsectors: (i) roads, (ii) rail, and (iii) urban transport. It is a working paper that reflects ADB’s experiences and was developed through consultations with government agencies and development partners. Key extracts of the ASR will be included in the next CPS for Thailand.

Thailand’s economy is heavily dependent on external trade, with exports representing over 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 (footnote 1). Although economic growth has declined in recent years, from 4.8% in 2007 to –2.7% in 2009, the current global economic recovery has significantly strengthened export trade volumes. The export-dependent nature of Thailand’s economy, with recent structural changes toward a higher share of value-added manufactured goods and level of global trading, requires a strong supportive and integrated transport and trade facilitation system.

Thailand’s transport sector contributes 1% to the country’s economy. Exports contributed over 60% to Thailand’s GDP in 2007, and the transport sector underpins this notable export performance. The road subsector dominated the transport sector with an estimated 95%8 of the freight and 98% of passengers.

In terms of physical development, the road network also dominates, with an estimated total length of 202,000 kilometers (km). The length of the rail network is 4,043 km. The length of coastline is 2,614 km, and navigable inland waterways represent only about 1,750 km. Thus, the road network is the most developed, with about 98% of roads, including village access roads, being paved.

Passenger transport in Thailand is dominated by personal vehicles (primarily cars and pickup trucks) and motorcycles. National personal vehicle ownership (expressed as in-use vehicles per thousand population) was growing at an average of 8%–10% per year from 1999 to 2007, and this trend is expected to continue.

In Bangkok, cars and pickup trucks are the most prevalent, with 388 vehicles per 1,000 population, compared to 220 motorcycles per 1,000 persons. Motorcycles are dominant in areas outside of Bangkok, with 159 motorcycles and 112 cars or pickup trucks per 1,000 population. With the continuing per capita income growth, it is expected that ownership of four-wheel vehicles will grow faster than motorcycle ownership.

ADB.December 2011.Type: Country Planning Documents.Country: Thailand.Subject: ADB administration and governance; Transport and ICT. ISBN:978-92-9092-415-9 (print), 978-92-9092-416-6 (web).

Thailand Transport Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map

For more information about Projects in Thailand see SOUTHEASTERN ASIA Projects

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Bolivia Feeder Roads Sector Development Project

World Bank.Total Project Cost** 29.5. Region Latin America And Caribbean -Major Sector (Sector) (%) Transportation (Rural and Inter-Urban Roads and Highways) (90%)  Public Administration, Law, and Justice (Public administration-Transportation) (10%) Themes (%) Rural services and infrastructure (100%)   Environmental Category B. Bank Team Lead Palsson, Gylfi  Borrower/Recipient REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA  Implementing Agency MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P106823&cid=3001_25Feeder Roads Sector Development Project Bolivia

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Pakistan.Road Sector Development Program

Access to markets and social services in rural areas of Sindh was poor because substantial portions of the provincial and rural road networks were in bad condition. Interventions were needed in line with the strategies of the Government of Pakistan and ADB to improve key sections of the provincial highway network, improve and rehabilitate rural access roads (RAR) in areas with pervasive poverty, strengthen institutional capacity in the provincial works and services department (WSD),4 and initiate policy reforms toward managing roads more effectively.

The anticipated social and poverty impacts, particularly from RARs, included increased income and employment opportunities, improved access to social services, and strengthened food security. The main impact of the PSDP was expected to be (i) local economic growth that would generate employment, (ii) lower transaction costs, and (iii) improved economic efficiency. Although poverty indicators for the country and for four provinces including Sindh are given in the report and recommendation of the President (RRP), no performance indicator or target was offered. Para. 125 of the RRP estimates that 20%–35% of national benefits from improved provincial highways would accrue to the poor.

The PSDP was to enhance access to markets and social services in rural areas by (i) improving and rehabilitating the RAR network; (ii) preserving key road assets by rationalizing road maintenance, including creating a provincial road maintenance fund; (iii) improving important provincial highways to facilitate trade and create income and employment opportunities; (iv) improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Sindh WSD in planning, managing, and maintaining the provincial road network; (v) supporting reforms in the road sector; and (vi) promoting private sector participation in road development and maintenance.

The policy and institutional reform component initiated a process of change in the province intended to transform the WSD into an efficient institution that, in partnership with district governments and the private sector, could provide a safe, cost-effective, and well-maintained network of provincial and rural roads. Some of the targets in the RRP were (i) lower vehicle operating costs, (ii) lower transport costs for farm inputs and outputs, (iii) alternative financing mechanisms that would reduce the burden on public sector resources, and (iv) fewer road accidents.
 
Asian Development Bank.Reference Number:PCV:PAK 2011-42.Project Number:32058-02.Loan Numbers:1892-PAK,1893-PAK (SF)

Pakistan: Road Sector Development Program

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Bhutan and Nepal.South Asia Road Safety Programs

The South Asia Regional Road Safety Program is a multi-sectoral approach and aims to involve 5 countries; India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The first phase of the project will focus on Bhutan and Nepal, and the second phase will focus on India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. This project aims to identify and prepare for further design and implementation most urgent and cost efficient South Asia Regional Road Safety Program, and improve country road safety capacities and collaboration mechanisms both between the countries and with external organizations/agencies.

Asian Development Bank.Project Number 45281- 01

South Asia Road Safety Programs, Phase 1 :  Regional

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Argentina will improve priority roads in its provincial network with IDB support

News Releases. Nov 30, 2011. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a loan for $200 million to finance the upgrading of priority roads in Argentina’s provincial roads network and their links to the national road network, a project that will help improve competitiveness and economic and social development, as well as reduce accidents.

The Productive Road Infrastructure Program II is the second operation financed with funds from a $2.5 billion credit line for investment projects for the country that was approved in September 2009. The credit line’s purpose was to finance road infrastructure in all of the country’s provinces through construction, maintenance, institutional strengthening, and better road safety.

The first operation, totaling $120 million, was signed in March 2010 and it is financing the Productive Road Infrastructure Program I. The new loan will finance road infrastructure in the provinces of Mendoza, Buenos Aires, San Juan and Entre Rios, among others.

Objectives include: improvement, maintenance and rehabilitation of roads, reduced travel time and transport costs, improved road safety and reduction of accidents, and development of management plans and institutional strengthening for provincial transport agencies.

Road safety support will include the identification of critical points and the implementation of design and construction of safety features in a pilot corridor.Other actions could include outreach and community awareness and training and interaction with other provincial entities that have responsibility for road safety.

"Due to the large number of accidents that take place on the country’s highways, the Argentine government has made road safety a priority with the creation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency," said Fernando Orduz, IDB project team leader."Through this program and other support for the country’s roads, the Bank is promoting actions to improve road safety conditions and ensure compliance with appropriate standards in all new investments.These actions are consistent with the United Nation’s launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety."

The $200 million IDB loan is for a 25-year term, with a four-year grace period, and a variable interest rate based on LIBOR. Local counterpart funding totals $10.5 milliond

Mauritania Road Corridor Project

The project will contribute to reduce two of the major barriers to growth, which are the thin national investment resource base and the very high costs of transport, which represent as high as 40 percent of internationally and domestically traded goods in remote areas of Mauritania and Western Mali, while consolidating Mauritania’s openness to Mali.

The project development objective is therefore to reduce physical barriers along the corridor from Nouakchott to Nema and the Mali-Mauritania frontier.

The key indicators will be (i) reduced transit times and transport costs along the corridor in Mauritania (ii) restoration of 10 percent of the total length of the most deteriorated section of the corridor to good condition, and (iii) establishment of a sustainable mechanism for road maintenance along international corridors and to the main production and trading centers.

World Bank,Author:Diouf,Ibou.Document Date:2011/11/27.Document Type:Implementation Status and Results Report.Report Number:ISR4944

Mauritania - Mauritania Road Corridor ACGF : P112131 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 02

India: Uttar Pradesh State Roads Project

The project development objective is to improve the performance of the core road system in Uttar Pradesh. The objective will be achieved by (i) improving the capacity and quality of the core state highway network and major district roads; (ii) enhancing road maintenance planning and execution, and reducing the backlog of deferred periodic maintenance; (iii) reducing accidents; (iv) easing traffic movement at selected inter-state crossings; and (v) strengthening the capacities of the Public Works Department.

 

World Bank. Author:Addo-Ashong,Tawia,Document Date:2011/11/19.Document Type:Implementation Status and Results Report.Report Number:ISR4507

 

India:Uttar Pradesh State Roads Project:P067606-Implementation Status Results Report: Sequence 19

 

 

Russia: WHSD Centre Sector PPP

The Project covers the construction and financing of the central section of the Western High Speed Diameter Road (WHSD), as well as the future operation and maintenance of the entire road, including the Northern and Southern sections built by OAO WHSD/the City of St. Petersburg, under a 30 year concession which was awarded to the Northern Capital Highway Consortium after an open and competitive tender.

The completion of the WHSD is expected to relieve the transport congestion problems in St Petersburg through:

• linking the City’s commercial port to the Ring Road;
• providing transport links between southern, western and northern parts of the city that by-pass the historic centre;
• reducing the traffic and other man-caused impact on streets, bridges, culture and architectural monuments of the city centre.

There is a project summary document available for this project.

ESIA Summary

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ESIA report (English) (3MB - PDF)

Non-technical summary (Russian) (3MB - PDF)
Non-technical summary (English) (3MB - PDF)

Stakeholder Engagement Plan (Russian) (1MB - PDF)
Stakeholder Engagement Plan (English) (1MB - PDF)

Resettlement and Compensation Framework (Russian) (730KB - PDF)
Resettlement and Compensation Framework (English) (603KB - PDF)

Environmental and Social Action Plan (Russian) (660KB - PDF)
Environmental and Social Action Plan (English) (586KB - PDF)

The Project is classified as a public sector project and the EBRD Public Information Policy would require the period of disclosure of 120 days from the date of publication which was 14 October 2011 prior to EBRD Board consideration. However, for commercial reasons derogation from the EBRD Public Information Policy is sought from EBRD’s Board to allow for the Project to be presented to the Board for consideration on 13 December 2011 following a 60 day disclosure period.

Further public consultation activities, including open houses and focused meetings with key stakeholder groups will be organised to discuss the findings of the ESIA and proposed mitigation measures during the disclosure period. Exact dates and venues will be announced well ahead of events.

Full ESIA availability

Full ESIA documentation is available locally at:
EBRD Headquarters in London, environmentandsocial@ebrd.com

Contact person: Elizabeth Smith
E-mail: smithe@ebrd.com

And

Full ESIA documentation is available locally in Saint Petersburg at:

• EBRD Resident Office
  Nevsky Prospekt, 25 – 3rd Floor
  Saint Petersburg
  Russian Federation
  Tel: (812) 703 55 25
• OOO "Northern Capital Highway"
  "Магистраль Северной Столицы"
  Nevskiy prospekt, dom 55, litera A
  Business Center "Regus"
  tel: (812) 346 78 78

Full ESIA documentation is available electronically in both Russian and English languages.

Enquiries

Alexey Marinychev
Tel: (812) 273 28 49
E-mail: marinichev@twopr.ru