Private Sector Participation in Light Rail-Light Metro Transit Initiatives

Book excerpt: This book aims to help governments and public authorities to establish effective light rail-light metro transit (LRMT) systems, and focuses on use of Public Private Participation (PPP) arrangements. Rather than identify a single approach, we present options and discuss practical issues related to preparing and implementing new LRMT PPP schemes. The approach is focused on providing information that can be used to make informed decisions, adapted to local policy and objectives. The material presented is intended as a practical guide to developing LRMT PPPs in both developed and developing countries. This work endeavors to provide answers to readers questions regarding how to successfully incorporate private sector participation in LRMT with a lesser emphasis on why LRMT and the private sector may be beneficial. The primary focus of this text is guiding the reader from design through to project implementation. It starts from the premise that underlying transport policy decisions will have already been made and that LRMT has already been identified as the appropriate transport solution. We have included some limited discussion of policy and technical issues where these directly impact the LRMT PPP approach. The approach is presented in nine sections, and in preparing it the author drew on current international LRMT PPP experience, through a series of interviews and case studies. The sections covered are: 1. Urban Transport and Light Rail/Light Metro Transit (LRMT) 2. Selected Technical Aspects 3. Incorporating Private Sector Participation in LRMT Initiatives 4. Understanding and Allocating Risk 5. Specifications, Oversight and Performance Management 6. Funding and finance 7. Developing a PPP Agreement 8. Procurement 9. Conclusions and Recommendations