Urban transport policy summary statements

1. Improve management of urban transport

2. Develop new urban transport infrastructures

3. Encourage the use of privately owned and managed public transport services and infrastructures

4. Introduce additional traffic management measures to ease congestion

5. Develop new transport master plans in cities

6. Strengthen traffic law enforcement and improving road safety

Urban And Community Transportation

Background

Urban traffic congestion has grown to critical proportions in some areas, most notably in parts of Phnom Penh, where the absence of traffic control devices (i.e. signals, signs and road marking) at several critical intersections and the poor condition of road surfaces and drainage on secondary roads and local streets exacerbates operational inefficiencies. Lack of road user discipline, inadequate regulations, poor use of traffic management measures, and low levels of enforcement are particular problems in all urban areas, greatly reducing the effective capacity of the road systems and contributing to safety concerns for all road users. Local public transport services are provided mainly by privately owned and operated motor-cycles (‘motodops’) with limited regulation and low, market-driven fares, but at a high safety risk to users. Vehicle overloading (with passengers and freight on inter-urban transport services) is a common occurrence, resulting in safety hazards for individuals and damage to roads and to the vehicles themselves. Facilities are non-existent for the safe and efficient operation of commercial vehicles providing essential services to urban businesses. Lack of planning and parking controls in urban areas has resulted in encroachment by business operators onto public property, and footpaths being used for parking. This provides additional hazardous conditions to the already poor facilities for pedestrians. Responsibility for management of transport infrastructure and services in urban areas is fragmented and spread over several government departments. Policymaking, planning, and management of urban transportation, as well as control of vehicle and driver licensing and registration, is weak and divided amongst national, provincial and local authorities. Investments in urban transport are fragmented and not well coordinated. A new Traffic law has been promulgated in 2006.

Sharing of urban transport responsibilities

Policy Statements notes:

1) Management of Urban Transport

The Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to improve the management of urban road infrastructure and transport means for the benefit of all users. Institutional responsibilities for urban and community transport will be rationalized and organizations will be strengthened in order to improve efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability. New technical standards to improve the safety of infrastructures and means of transport will be developed and introduced. The government is also committed to decentralize, in the long term, to the municipalities the planning, upgrading and maintenance of urban transport infrastructure and regulation of services, and the preparation and disbursement of annual budgets.

2) Urban Road Infrastructures

In recognition of the importance of urban areas to the national economy, the Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to develop new urban road infrastructure. In particular, the number of paved roads will be increased and the road drainage systems will be improved to limit the effects of flooding. Intersections in urban and community areas will also be improved to clearly demarcate various road user priorities and adequate drainage facilities and surface conditions will be provided. In community areas, all weather roads will be provided with adequate facilities for all road users to ensure access to markets and social amenities. The construction of ring roads for major urban centers of Cambodia is also a major development scheme aimed to reduce city traffic congestion. Starting with Phnom Penh as a priority, a network of arterial, collector (ring roads) and local roads will be established in the major urban areas to provide adequate capacity and levels of service for all road users.

3) Private participation in public transport services and infrastructures

In order to increase access to employment opportunities in urban areas, and to markets and social amenities in community areas, the Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to develop incentives to encourage the introduction of safe and efficient, privately owned and operated public transport services and infrastructures. The Government will encourage the introduction of privately operated public transport means in urban areas, starting in Phnom Penh. These services will be regulated in order to ensure safety of vehicles and operations for the traveling public and strict enforcement will be conducted by the traffic police. Opportunities for the use of privately owned urban transport infrastructure will also be investigated (e.g. private off-street parking facilities, toll bridges, toll roads, etc). In community areas, the Government will investigate offering micro-credit financial support or short term subsidies to initiate or encourage the new services.

4) New measures to ease congestion

The Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to introduce a wider use of traffic management measures to improve overall efficiency of traffic circulation systems in for all road users in urban and community areas.

5) Transport master plans

The Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to develop new transport master plans for major cities and satellite cities. These plans will be used to ensure the harmonious development of transport in cities.

6) Traffic law enforcement

The Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to strengthen traffic law enforcement practices and to improve road safety in urban and community areas. To that effect, training and equipment will be provided to the traffic police, through the National Road Safety Program. The Government will investigate the sharing of vehicle control enforcement between the traffic police and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.