The
main issues in the transport sector that were discussed in the report submitted
earlier comprised technical, institutional and economic aspects. The analysis
of these three aspects and their various components in the land, maritime and
air transport sub-sectors led to the identification of several gaps and
shortcomings that are contributing to the bad or unsatisfactory performance in
most of the sub-sectors. Consequently, a list of projects was drawn that would
shift the performance in the medium term to the desired level. A further
examination of the recommended projects was required to identify those that
would have the priority to be started during the coming three years.
The
aim of the current write-up is to justify the selection of priority projects in
light of the stated objectives and identified constraints.
The
common understanding applied to all sub-sectors is that the prerequisite to any
physical activity is to have a solid and efficient institutional structure.
Therefore, the projects dealing with establishing new authorities and
organizing existing ones were automatically pushed forward in the list of
priorities. Other projects dealing with studies and soft measures were also
included in the priority list, due to the fact that these are easy to implement
and they are naturally a corner stone for other subsequent activities.
Below
is a brief discussion on the selection of construction or physical projects, in
various sub-sectors, to be part of the priority list.
The
re-classification of the road network is a vital step in the definition of
responsibilities and hence works to be carried out on the different network
components. Therefore the study in this respect is given a priority to be
conducted at the onset of other activities.
Maintenance
works are also included in the priority list due to their impact on the
economic aspect of road transport and their time related magnitude, i.e. the
more these are deferred, the more the network deteriorates and the more cash
has to be spent to reinstate it back to normal condition.
Other
projects included in the list are the Périphérique and the A2 motorways.
Although these are high cost projects, they constitute part of the essential
committed infrastructure at the
The
remaining projects under the strategic road network relate to those projects
committed under the UTDP (Urban Transport Development Program). These projects
form the link in the urban transport between the physical measures and traffic
management measures, and they are extremely important in relieving the
expensive congestions in and around
The
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) studied on the northern entrance to
A
similar exercise needs to be studied for the intra urban public transport bus
dedicated lanes. This study is included in the priority list in order to seize
the benefits of this system as early as possible.
The
list of priorities includes as well the design and construction of bus stations
and terminals in order to organize and improve the inter-urban public transport
and contribute in the modal shift mentioned above.
One
project is included as a priority under this sub-sector consisting of a
feasibility study for the logistic centers and inland port. The construction of
these facilities is deferred to a later stage in the medium term due to its
dependence on regional developments and the establishment of trade routes
within
The
project list under the rail sub-sector includes clearing the rail right-of-way
as a priority. This project would open several opportunities for benefiting
from the existing platform thus reclaiming a national asset that is abused and
misused.
A
priority in this field is to establish the mass transport importance especially
at the entrances to
The
priority list includes as well a study to identify the need and benefit of
introducing rail operations in
The
only project brought forward in the priority list concerning Maritime Transport
besides the institutional arrangements is the study on the extension of the
The
projects related to air transport are all included in the priority list.
Projects dealing with the physical stock comprise the rehabilitation and
development of the
The
other project included in the list is a feasibility study aiming at
establishing the need to upgrade some airport facilities (mainly runway length
and gates) to be able to receive the New generation of Large Aircrafts (NLA).
The study would also identify the need to have a backup runway within