SHANGHAI (Peoples Republic of China), LONDON (United Kingdom), and WASHINGTON, DC, November 1, 2003 -- The Shell Foundation, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government today announced the creation of the Shanghai Sustainable Transport Partnership.

The partnership, outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Construction and Management Commission, is an agreement to create a set of sustainable transport indicators and to design an innovative mass transit system. The goal is to enhance the city’s ability to alleviate traffic congestion and air pollution.

The MOU signed today is the result of nearly a year of discussions with the Shanghai government. It follows the April 2002 release of the Shanghai Metropolitan Transport White Paper, a study prepared by the government, which outlines long-term goals for all forms of transportation in the city.

The transit system design outlined in the MOU will focus on a bus rapid transit (BRT) model that will integrate with the city’s existing and planned metro and light rail systems that are the core of its mass transport service.

According to Kurt Hoffman, director of the London-based Shell Foundation, “Transport increasingly defines the quality of urban life, both socially and economically. It is critical to all of us involved in transportation to support the creation of solutions to urban transport that are sustainable, that meet the city’s needs, and that address the growing problems of growth, congestion and pollution.”

The goal of the Shanghai Sustainable Transport Partnership is the creation of a public-private partnership to develop a flexible, integrated transportation system for Shanghai. EMBARQ – The WRI Center for Transport and the Environment – will undertake the immediate tasks that include an initial feasibility study for a BRT system and developing a set of transport indicators that will allow the city to manage its growth efficiently and effectively.

“Shanghai is taking critical and courageous steps to manage its future in a way that avoids the problems facing so many other large cities today,” said Nancy Kete, co-director of EMBARQ. “The city knows that their ability to provide for growth and jobs in the future depends on its transportation systems. We are proud to be part of this effort.”

Kurt Hoffman added: “In keeping with our aims, we will share the learning experience and the knowledge gained throughout the lifetime of the Shanghai project with other cities around the world and with others in the sustainable transport community.”

The project will complete a baseline assessment of the transport conditions in Shanghai to develop a set of indicators for sustainable transport; they will address existing issues of congestion; health, safety, and environment; economic development; and issues of access and mobility for commuters. These indicators will continue to serve as a measurement of progress after a new mass transit system has been put in place and is operating.

The project will then move into the development and implementation of a BRT system. A key priority for the system will be the rapid and unimpeded movement of buses as a means of reducing the number of cars on the road during rush hour periods. The anticipated benefits of such a system include increased mobility, reduced congestions, and improved air quality. The MOU calls for the indicator project and the BRT feasibility studies to be completed within 14 months.

EMBARQ was established in 2002 with founding support from the Shell Foundation. The announcement of the Shanghai Sustainable Transport Partnership marks EMBARQ’s second project city. EMBARQ and the Mexico City government established the Center for Sustainable Transport for Mexico City in May 2002 to find solutions to the transport problems in the world’s second largest megacity.

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For more information, contact:

World Resources Institute
Paul Mackie, senior media officer, +1(202)729-7684, pmackie@wri.org
In Shanghai, Wendy Tao, EMBARQ + 86 1356 472 6044
In London, Andy Corrigan, Shell Foundation, +44 207 934 5963
In Washington, D.C., Christopher Lagan, WRI media officer, +1 202 729-7684, clagan@wri.org>