Transport Infrastructure Investment: Options for Efficiency

Surface transport plays a fundamental role in nearly all social and economic activity. Providing and maintaining the infrastructure consumes enormous resources. Thus, it is essential that this be carried out in the most efficient and effective way possible. Many options are available to provide surface transport infrastructure public ministries and agencies, public-private partnerships (PPPs), state-owned companies, private and non-profit entities, and outright privatisation. There are also various means of paying for it, including user charging, subsidies, public borrowing or private financing. This report examines key principles that should be considered by governments in deciding how to provide and pay for surface transport infrastructure, with a view to best serving societies needs and employing public resources. It also considers the key issues that must be resolved in making more use of private financing and expertise. Table of Content : Foreword Abstract Key Messages Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations PART I. THE PROVISION OF SURFACE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE 1. Frameworks for the Provision and Financing of Surface Transport Infrastructure 2. International Experiences PART II. PRINCIPLES FOR THE BUDGET TREATMENT OF SURFACT TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT 3. Infrastructure Investment and Budget Treatment PART III. PURSUING EFFICIENCY GAINS IN THE PROVISION OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE 4. Principles for Efficiency in the Provision of Surface Transport Infrastructure 5. Efficiency in Different Models for Infrastructure Provision 6. Risk Sharing in Public-Private Partnerships 7. Efficient Charging of Infrastructure Use - Should Infrastructure be Paid For by Taxes or Charges? PART IV. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS 8. Public-Private Partnerships Legislation and Regulation 9. Public-Private Partnerships Procurement and Quality Control ANNEX: CASE STUDIES 1. Networks -Motorway Network Management in Austria -Motorway Concessions in France -Financing of the Italian Motorway Network -Roads in Portugal -Highway Network Funding in the US -New Zealand: The National Land Transport Programme -Private Provision of Rail Infrastructure in Canada 2. Projects -United Kingdom: The Private Financing Initiative -Motorway Concessions in Spain -The German A and F-Models -Hungary: The M1/M15 Project -Road Concessions in Latin America and Argentina -Motorway PPPs in Mexico -Rail Link Financing in Sweden References Contributors to this Report