Abstract

Faced with the challenge of providing adequate transport services with limited resources, cities have, for several decades, been investing in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). ITS utilize Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to make more efficient use of existing transport infrastructure with the aim of improving transport services and reducing congestion, accidents, and air pollution. In the past two decades, with the rapid advancement of ICT and intensive advocacy from big technology vendors, the concept of ‘smart cities’ has gained great popularity and many cities have started to undertake a more holistic approach to improving urban services using technology in the name of smart city initiatives. Section two introduces these themes, which serve as the analytical framework to understand how smart mobility investments lead to energy savings. The comparison in the search for similarities among the case studies and interviews helped us develop a conceptual model, emphasizing cause and effect and presented in section three, of how ITS deployment and operation in the context of smart cities leads to energy saving benefits. This conceptual model is presented with detailed discussions of institutional, technological, and physical conditions at each step in the model. Section four focuses on energy savings with quantitative evidence of energy saving potential of ITS investments collected from literature and case studies. Section five links the results of this study to the Wuhan Integrated Transport Development Project and how the knowledge has been incorporated into project design. To further explore the energy efficiency potential of Wuhan and to mainstream ITS and smart transport solutions as a source of achieving energy efficiency using results of this study, a TRACE analysis was also completed as part of this research effort. This analysis focused on the passenger transport sector. Finally, policy recommendations on the major conditions under which ITS investments in the context of smart cities achieve energy savings are summarized in Section 6 with specific implications for cities in the developing countries. Document type: Book

Abstract

This report starts with a history of high speed rail worldwide and then outlines the history of China's move toward a high-speed rail network. It explains why China is uniquely suited for a high-speed rail system. System performance indicators, such as: speed, capacity, safety, fares, ridership, and operating and maintenance costs, are examined for China and other countries. The relationship between high-speed rail and economic development is discussed along with preconditions necessary for successful implementation of a high-speed rail project. Document type: Book

Abstract

fter a strong finish in 2014, growth moderated in early 2015. Malaysia’s economy expanded by 6.0 percent in 2014, accelerating to 7.3 percent q/q saar in Q42014 due to resilient domestic demand and a pick-up of exports. Growth moderated to 4.7 percent q/q saar in Q1 2015 on account of weaker external demand, but domestic demand remained strong. To transform the planning and delivery of urban transport, Malaysia may consider prioritizing the following reforms: (a) Establish lead transport agencies at the conurbation level that spearhead an integrated approach towards the planning and delivery of urban transport across different modes; (b) identify and implement sustainable financing mechanisms for the lead agency. Introducing local taxes on fuel would not only result in environmental gains and trim the fiscal deficit (by RM10-19 billion), but also fund transport (for example, 24 percent of Vancouver’s transit system is funded by municipal gas taxes). Reviewing impediments to transit-oriented development will be another option, but should be considered alongside implications for affordability and inclusion; and (c) align policies to promote public transport with incentives to discourage the usage of private transport in congested areas. Introducing congestion pricing in areas well-covered by public transport as is done inSingapore will be an example of such policies.