$200 million urban
transport plan

CDR is in talks with World Bank

The Council for Development and Reconstruction is preparing studies to launch a project to develop urban transportation in the Greater Beirut area. The plan focuses on establishing bus routes between Beirut and Tabarja.

The CDR is discussing financial support and planning with the World Bank to implement the $200 million project.

The first component of the project is expected to be funded through a $150 million loan from the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The financing will be used for goods and works for the construction of the required infrastructure and associated civil works, as well as consulting services. The bus route will be about 24 km long and will run into sections of the existing Tabarja-Beirut highway and sections of the old railway alignment.

Infrastructure works will include the construction and reinforcement of the dedicated bus routes, the construction of bus stations and access infrastructure and the construction of park and ride facilities and feeder bus stops.

The second component, valued at $40 million, will finance the construction of bus corridors within Beirut and the purchase of new buses to support the Government’s plan for improving regular bus services within Beirut.

The project foresees the strengthening of the capacity of the Ministry of Transport and relative agencies such as the Railways and Public Transport Authority to manage concession contracts with private operators, or to establish a new transport authority that would take the leadership on the planning and regulation of all urban transport. Around $8 million are needed for institutional strengthening, which includes additional studies for further expanding the public transportation and mass transit coverage in the Greater Beirut area.

Technical assistance, outreach activities and other operational support for management of project implementation would cost around $2 million.