WORLD BANK TO COOPERATE ON IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
James Anderson, World Bank Country Manager for Mongolia, and P.Bayarkhuu, Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure and Ger District Development, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperating to strengthen Ulaanbaatar's revenue, investment, and planning processes, as well as strengthening the financial stability of the city's public transportation services.
Officials will make conduct a transportation survey, and conduct an audit and analysis of existing and alternative versions of pub- lic transportation planning strategies. With a review of the information available, mid and long-term strategies for public transportation will be presented.
The main goal of these surveys and studies is to improve the quality and performance of public transportation services, and to decrease the state's subsidization of the sector. James Anderson noted, “A more transparent and harmonized process for capital investment planning can help cities improve coordination among implementing agencies so they get the most out of their projects. Given the current fiscal constraints, both of these challenges become increasingly important ."
The partnership is being implemented by the World Bank’s Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility, and is being financed by the Consulting Fund of World Bank, the state, and private companies. This project is a continuation of a World Bank-funded project to improve the quality of state services. The World Bank’s Global Practice team for Transport & ICT has been working closely with the government on the planning of public transportation and strengthening management capacity, and is also currently implementing the Smart Bus project with the Ulaanbaatar Mayor’s Office.