Seminar I.A.D.B. - 2002 Santiago (Chile)

Topic of the seminar : "The regional dialogue on the policy of urban transport "

This crowned conference of success was organized in orer to share the experiments in terms of recent innovation and achievement in the urban transport, more particularly public transport, among the six countries of the Cone of the South (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay).

The twenty-five presentations of this three days conference met the need for complete planning for public transport with the stress laid on the experiments of Argentina and of Chile as well as an invited presentation of Mexico.

There were presentations on new systems and projects in the Cone of the South by the delegates of the six countries and a special presentation on the rapid transit system of bus of Bogota, Transmilenio.

During the active discussion, in response on all the subjects, there was a particularly essential debate on the way of improving the terms of public-private partnership in the infrastructure of urban transport. A better management and a better financing of the systems of public buses were a subject of great concern, since those are regarded as the weak link in the policy of transport of the majority of the cities.
The presentations on the subject of the subways in towns of Latin America caused much attention and discussion on the problems of their future roles.

There was a presentation of the policy of the Inter-American Bank of Development by Mario Duran, who was discussed among the participants making a point much of implying the Bank in their future projects.

We intend to dedicate this report to our friend of long date and to colleague, Charles Wright, of the Inter-American Bank of Development.It was very active in the preparation of this Dialogue (as well as the precedent of Central American with San Jose), but unfortunately did not live long enough to take part in it. It was the voice of wisdom in the urban transport sector, a faithful member of the CODATU and a friend close to each one among us.