The Palestinian Perspective on the Cooperation in R&D in Sustainable Urban Mobility

Khaled Al-Sahili

An-Najah National UniversityPalestine

Rabat 19 May 2015

3/19/14

Road Blocks

Current Conditions

• Only Road transport system is functional• Active Public Transport (PT) system exists; however,

not effective• PT is available for Inter City and Internal Routes• All PT operate on Diesel fuel• PT consists of:

Buses (mini and conventional) Shared Taxis (Office) Taxis

Inter City PT Routes

State of the Art

• Technology is available and wide spread• Vehicle tracking system is used on several PT

services (buses and taxis) – for the operating company

• Text messaging service by taxi companies (caller name, phone, address)

• Initiative of Smart Campus• Some of the fleet is new

(mainly taxis)• International fund to renew

some buses

Initiatives

• Infrastructure Assessment in the West Bank and

Gaza: Transport Sector Assessment

• Developing a Transport Strategy Note

• Restructuring of Public Transport Sector

• Road Safety Studies and Training

• Road Design and Evaluation

• Training on Innovative Bus System

• Developing a Road Safety Manual

• … etc.

Legal and Institutional Framework• PT is privately owned and operated with very limited

financial support from the government

• Ministry of Transport (MOT) sets policies and monitors

• PT vehicle/company operates by “permits” issued by MOT

• Bus companies had “Concession rights” for each route.

• Old concessions (some since Jordanian Rule); each route has one concession – Monopoly; results in inefficient system – lack of competition.

• Municipalities manage the PT facilities

• Weak professional expertise by MOT and Municipalities to manage the transport systems

• There are laws; however, updating is very slow

• Need modern laws regarding the use of technologies

Needs and Problems of PT / Urban Mobility

• Surplus of PT service (on many lines)• High rate of increase in automobile ownership• Urban congestion in major city centers• Limited urban space for expansion of service• Weak traffic management• Weak professional expertise within the Public Sector• Relatively high operating cost (fuel, fees, taxes)• Poor maintenance (and facilities) of PT vehicles• Parking problems• Road safety problems• Political constraints

Needs and Problems of PT / Urban Mobility - continued• Old family business (buses) – weak management• Weak PT service; do not operate on schedule• Fare is affordable, but PT is generally less attractive

mode for users – low utilization rate• Old fleet (buses); limited revenues for renewal• Lack of sustainable transport planning and policy

practices • Heavy use of shared taxis as a para-transit mode,

which contributes to traffic congestion• Weak human awareness• …. Etc.• List is long, but you get the idea

Opportunities / Potential

• Available / Active PT service• Good PT service coverage (in general)• Affordable cost for users• Reasonable Technology is available and wide spread• Internet service is available with good coverage• Smart phones are widespread• Available tax incentives for cleaner fuel• Active media / social media• Transport Master Plan is underway• There is a National Spatial Plan• Increase interests in bicycling

Recommendations - General

• Improving PT attractiveness and service level• Exploring New Technologies and Operation

Management to improve PT• Restructuring the PT Sector• Revise “old” policies, regulations, and laws• Public awareness campaigns• Improve management and operations• Create good partnership with Bus Companies Owners

Union• Improve local human capacities

Recommendations for Future Cooperation

• Improving PT attractiveness and service level

• Exploring New Technologies and Operation Management to improve PT

• City level traffic management schemes favouring PT

• A “Roadmap to sustainable transport planning and policy”

• Deployment of Clean Fuel in Public Transport

• Exploration of various Traveller Information System schemes and impact on improving operation

• Use of smart phones in data collection on travel behaviour and pedestrian operating characteristics

• National Traffic Safety System• Developing a smart city / smart campus model• … Others

Direct or Indirect Industry Benefits within EU

• Establish / strengthen business relationships with Bus manufacturing companies Traffic systems suppliers Telecom / Technology services developers

and suppliers• Technology and Knowledge Transfer