WB to begin US$180mn transport project review Nov.

The World Bank (WB) expects to begin reviewing a loan request submitted by Colombia's finance ministry for a US$180mn national urban transport project in November, according to a just released WB loan request document. The project aims to improve long-term sustainability, efficiency and quality of urban transport in selected cities by assisting the government in implementating a National Urban Transport Program. The project will build on the capital Bogota's Transmilenio urban transport system. Specific objectives include implementing high-quality rapid bus transit systems and building greater institutional capacity at the national level in order to formulate urban transport policies and strategies, and at the local level for urban transport planning and traffic management. According to the document, public bus transportation in Colombian cities is of low quality, low operating speed, excessive travel times, high levels of congestion, high accident rates, and elevated levels of air and noise pollution; and that the regulatory framework at both national and local levels is inadequate. The national planning department and the transport ministry will help execute the project. According to the document, the estimated board approval date is April 15, 2004.