Towards Integrated Transportation in Cairo: A story of Partnership, Process and Piloting

The government of Egypt has started to plan and implement alternative mobility tools to address worsening congestion. The main challenge has been the weak provision of public transportation tools despite huge demand. For example, some figures estimate that the Cairo metro moves 3.6 million people/day. The government has taken the approach of building new communities/cities to absorb this population growth. More specifically, two communities to the East and West of Cairo, New Cairo and 6th of October City, respectively have been growing rapidly over the last ten years for this reason. However, the mobility options connecting the New Communities to Central Cairo are still lacking. Formal public transportation between central Cairo and the new communities is limited to a few bus lines and as a result an informal system of micro-buses is flourishing. The Ministry of Housing has been working hard to improve the current provision of public transportation connecting the new communities to central Cairo, and the ministry is planning for two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors for this purpose. The planning of the BRT system has provided a number of lessons which will the event will be structured around.

The event will work towards implementing the New Urban Agenda as the experience of planning and implementing the BRT is directly related to Transformative Commitment #54 which states “we commit ourselves to the generation and use of renewable and affordable energy and sustainable and efficient transport infrastructure and services, where possible achieving the benefits of connectivity and reducing the financial, environmental and public health costs of inefficient mobility, congestion, air pollution, urban heat island effects and noise.” It is also in line with SDG target #11.2 which states “by 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women ,children, persons with disabilities and older persons.”

The General Organization of Physical Planning would like to share its experience of planning the BRT system as a means of moving towards the New Urban Agenda. Three main topics will be discussed:

• Finding the right partner i.e. the right leadership and political will (Partnership). The GOPP and NUCA have together formed a steering committee which includes all government stakeholders that will be effected by the BRT.

• Shifting the dialogue with the stakeholders from road projects to sustainable mobility (Process). In order to build buy in for the BRT, the government has been working to achieve a paradigm shift in the way mobility is planned and implemented. Numerous consultations have been necessary in order for decision makers to commit necessary infrastructure changes.

• Selecting the right intervention which meets the needs of population and is feasible from government perspective. (Pilots) The government is not only working to build BRT, but it is also assessing other interventions. The government can share its experience in choosing the appropriate transport mode based on city.