A Decade of Action in Transport: An Evaluation of World Bank Assistance to the Transport Sector, 1995-2005, Part 291

Throughout the past decade transport projects have played a pivotal role in economic development and poverty alleviation. This review finds that the World Bank's strategy in this area has been well managed and effective. The strong support for intercity highway construction and rehabilitation contributed to private sector development, steadily improving project outcome ratings, and key elements of the strategy-sustainability. However, transport strategies must now focus more attention on confronting cross-cutting issues such as traffic congestion, environmental damages, safety, efficiency, and affordability. This focus will necessitate more innovative, multi-sectoral approaches and the Bank may have to reconsider its priorities to fully address these challenging social, political, and environmental issues and shift resources to ensuring efficient multimodal transport, improved rural linkages, and better urban transport.