The future of our city is determined today!

Transcription

1 CITY OF ALMATY A SUS STAINABLE A TRANS SPO ORT STRATEG TE GY The future of our city is determined today!

2 Contents Foreword... 3 Abbreviations List... 4 Executive Summary INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OUR STRATEGIES WHY ALMATY NEEDS A TRANSPORT STRATEGY Why a Sustaina Transport Strategy THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT THE NATIONAL CONTEXT THE LOCAL CONTEXT THE URBAN TRANSPORT CONTEXT THE PROCESS FOR CREATING A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR ALMATY CHALLENGES INCREASING CONGESTION ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE ECONOMY SOCIAL EXCLUSION UNAT TRACTIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT LACK OF INTEGRATION BETWEEN TRANSPORT AND URBAN PLANNING URBAN SPRAWL NO PARKING OR ACTIVE TRAFFIC ROAD SAFETY CONCERN LACK OF CAPACITY AND ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY UNSATISFACTORY REGULATORY FRAMEWORK VISION AND GOALS A TRANSPORT VISION FOR ALMATY SETTING HIGH-LEVEL POLICIES SETTING CLEAR AND MEASURABLE TARGETS POLICIES AND MEASURES IMPROVE LEVEL OF SERVICE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROMOTE CYCLING AND WALKING ACTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT INTEGRATE URBAN AND TRANSPORT PLANNING SUSTAINABLE ROAD NET WORK DEVELOPMENT: CONNECTING THE SUBURBS TO THE CITY PROMOTE LOW EMISSION CARS AND ZONES MECHANISM OF REALIZATION OF THE STRATEGIES IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT STRATEGY Definition of Three Comparable Future Scenarios to Choose From Major Transportation Indicators of The Sustainable Transport Scenario Green Transport City Dynamic City Moving City Affordable City Accessible City Clean City Action plan ( ) Short Term investment (Pilot projects): CLOSING REMARKS... 55

3 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 3 Foreword Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and enjoys a vibrant social and cultural life. While almost 1.5 million people pass through our city daily, this number is likely to rise to 2.5 million by Almaty is working to respond to this rapid growth rate with well thought-out strategies for transport, land use and community services. The City Transport Strategy for is an important part of these developments. During the draft stage of strategy development, we consulted with experts and have incorporated many of their recommendations. Significantly, the strategy promotes a more integrated approach to planning, linking all modes of transport together and coordinating them with city development. This method will require close collaboration between all partners in the development process. Almaty is a 24-hour city, which needs to expand and develop its mass rapid transit (MRT) system, to include the extension of the metro, conversion of old tram lines into a modern and attractive light rail transit (LRT) system, and becoming a walking and cycling city. This strategy will help to provide a sustainable foundation for Almaty s future. Akhmetzhan Smagulovich Yesimov Almaty Mayor

4 4 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy Abbreviations List ABD Akimat BAU BOT BRT CAST CO 2 CNG DBOT Dept. EBRD EIA EU EURO V GEF GHG KM Km/h KZT ITS LEZ LRT M M-tons Metro MRT NOx P&R PM PPP PT ROM SLA SUTS TM TIA TOD TVM UNDP Asian Development Bank Almaty Municipal Government Business As Usual Build-Operate-Transfer Bus Rapid Transport City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Carbon Dioxide Compressed Natural Gas Design-Build-Operate-Transfer Department European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Environmental Impact Assessment European Union most recent European Emission Standard Global Environmental Facility Greenhouse Gases Kilometers Kilometers per hour Kazakhstani Tenge currency Intelligent Transportation System Low Emissions Zone Light rail Transport Million Metric Tons Metropolitan Railway System Mass Rapid Transit Nitrogen Oxides Park and Ride Particulate Matter Public-Private Partnership Public Transport ROM Transportation & Engineering Ltd. Service Level Agreement Sustainable Urban Transport Strategy Traffic Management Traffic Impact Assessment Transit-Oriented Development Ticket Vending Machine United Nations Development Programme

5 Executive Summary City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 5 This strategy sets new key directions, policy targets and plans for the city. By 2023, the people of Almaty will have access to a transport system that provides high-quality, integrated, safe and sustainable service to the entire population. This system will contribute to the economic development of the city and the nation overall, while significantly reducing negative environmental impacts. The strategy will contribute to improving the quality of life in Almaty, developing an attractive city in which to live and work. KEY STRATEGIES Support public transport, walking and cycling as sustainable modes of transport in the city center Significantly reduce transport related air pollution Improve public transport services extensively Develop Almaty into a walking and cycling city Adjust the road network in accordance with the needs of the sustainable transport system, so that trucks and through-traffic will avoid passing through the city Actively manage traffic in the city center Introduce on-street parking management in the city center Better integrate urban planning with transport planning Integrate Almaty s transport system with the suburbs This strategy will be coordinated with the State government to ensure that all projects match with Almaty s development and transport needs. STRATEGY GOALS Reduce air pollution emissions and GHGs by 32% relative to current levels Increase the market share of sustainable transport modes (public transport, walking and cycling) from 42% currently, to 55% Decrease the number of fatalities due to road accidents, especially accidents involving pedestrians, by 35% Reduce congestion in the city center by 30% Ensure full integration between municipal urban planning and transport planning.

6 6 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy STRATEGY MOTIVES Integrate Almaty into Kazakhstan s recently adopted national green economy policy Major urban development is expected as specific areas within the region are annexed into the municipality Road transport is a major source of air pollution in the city. More than 80% of the city s air pollution is from the transport sector. Pollutant emissions in Almaty are expected to grow by 75% over the next 10 years The number of cars in Almaty has increased significantly in recent years, resulting in severe road congestion during a large portion of the day. By 2023 traffic flow during the peak hour will be lower than 15 km/hr, while bus speed will drop to 12 km/hr. The city plans to host major international events such as the 2017 Winter Universiade The city is plans major investments in transport infrastructure and wants to maximize the return for those investments MAJOR ACTIONS PLANNED FOR : Extend the metro line toward Auezov district Construct an LRT line along Tram line #4 Introduce an on-street parking management system in the city center Design and construct the city s first BRT route from the western residential area and Orbita district toward the city center Introduce several dedicated bus lanes along major bus corridors Construct a bicycle lane network in the city center and implement a bike rental program Implement a public awareness campaign to promote the use of cycling for daily transport and leisure Integrate suburban public transport services with urban services Expand the Arbat Shopping Street pedestrian zone Complete a freeway ring-road around the city Promote the use of green vehicles (CNG, Euro V and electric vehicles) in private and public fleets Adopt a traffic impact assessment procedure Establish a strong transport authority (holding company) with effective professional capacities and financial resources Prepare and implement a new traffic management scheme for the city center MAJOR ACTIONS PLANNED FOR : Continue metro construction Construct an additional modern LRT line route to replace tram line #6 integrated into the metro system Construct a network of BRT routes Explore the feasibility of introducing Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or a congestion pricing scheme

7 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 7 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND The City of Almaty decided to define its long-term strategic framework for the development of its transportation network and services in line with Kazakhstan s national green economy policy. This strategic document considers a wide range of transportation related issues and provides a holistic, integrated, longlasting and consistent framework for decision makers dealing with transport related issues. This document was initiated by the UNDP through the City of Almaty Sustainable Transport (CAST) project, and was developed together with relevant stakeholders from Akimat and elsewhere. 1.2 OUR STRATEGIES 1 Metropolitan of Almaty 50 Measures 3 Scenarios 2.1 Million Residents 12 Targets 1 Green Transport Scenario 11 Challenges 8 High Level Policies 10 Year Action Plan 1 Vision 4 Strategic Goals 3-Year Pilot

8 8 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 2. WHY ALMATY NEEDS A TRANSPORT STRATEGY 2.1 REPLACING AD-HOC DECISIONS WITH A LONG- TERM VISION Traditionally, most decisions regarding urban transport investments and operations in Almaty are performed on an ad-hoc basis, with an aim towards solving an immediate problem. Ad-hoc decisions of this type lack integration with other sectors and often negate other decisions and efforts. By utilizing a comprehensive transport strategy, all decisions, in all sectors, aim at achieving a common long-term vision for the city. 2.2 ENSURING MOBILITY FOR ALL The current implicit transport strategy favours the (private) car. Roads are constructed in response to all transport supply needs, the cost of fuel is low, and parking is cheap, if not free. We want to ensure long term mobility and accessibility to all Almaty s citizens, including the poor, the disabled, the young and the old, rather than only addressing the needs of car users. A transport strategy that focuses on mobility for all citizens and all modes will achieve this purpose. 2.3 INTEGRATING TRANSPORT WITH URBAN PLANNING Almaty is growing rapidly and development of new neighbourhoods and regions are being planned. A transport strategy will enable the provision of better transport services to new areas while ensuring that new development does not negatively impact on traffic in older sections of the city.

9 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 9 3. WHY A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT STRATEGY Despite major investments in transport infrastructure over the last few years, Almaty s current urban transport network is far from sustainable. Both congestion and pollution are steadily growing, and cars dominate the city s streets, leaving little room for pedestrian travel. A pedestrian amongst parked cars in the city center «Sustainable urban transport is a system that provides long-term and continuous high quality mobility and accessibility for all members of the population, while positively contributing to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the community overall.» 3.1 THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT In the mid-1990s, many countries recognized that the transport trends at the time were not sustainable and that existing policy frameworks seemed unable to move society towards a more sustainable transport future. Many governments began to develop new transport policies that focused on moving people rather than cars, and ensured that transport systems would be more environmentally friendly and less polluting. Cities like Singapore, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Bogota, and New York started to shift from expanding their road networks towards investing in sustainable transport modes. This shift meant improvements to public transport, increased parking regulations, the creation of pedestrian areas and the introduction of bicycle facilities on a large scale. At the beginning of the current century, major international institutions like The World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), started to promote the development of sustainable urban transport strategies in developing countries in an effort to support the shift towards sustainability. All of these efforts shared a common purpose of decreasing GHG emissions and pollution, clamping down on uncontrolled urbanization and implementing more integrated planning methods. Cities that have adopted sustainable transport strategies have since found that they are able to allocate their urban transport budget more efficiently than they could prior to implementing the strategies. These cities have become more attractive places for residents and businesses and offer a higher quality of life than cities that have not implemented these strategies. As part of an international community, increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change, and as the largest city in Kazakhstan, Almaty takes a leadership role in developing transport initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This, combined with a growing interest in improved air quality and transportation safety, and the shared goal of the residents of Almaty to provide accessibility and mobility that supports economic development within the city, led Almaty to develop sustainable transport strategies that meet these goals.

10 10 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 3.2 THE NATIONAL CONTEXT Green economy strategy At the end of 2012, President Nursultan Nazarbayev declared that «Kazakhstan is waiting for a revolution in the green economy». Green energy is also the subject of EXPO-2017, which will be hosted in Astana. In 2013, President Nazarbayev approved a strategy document entitled, «Concept for Transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Green Economy», which deals with a wide range of environmental problems and potential solutions. The strategic document first defines a set of 10 quantitative goals, of which two deal directly with transportation elements; specifically, the reduction of GHG emissions and air pollution 1. The document elaborates on measures to be adopted for the transport sector, including: 1. Providing an optimal structure for the transport fleet by means of monitoring and promoting fuel efficiency 2. Developing alternative types of transport and respective infrastructure, in particular for electric cars and gas-fuelled cars 3. Ensuring the use of high quality fuels 4. Developing an car disposal incentive program 5. Improving control of the flow of transportation using a smart traffic control system The Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible for developing an action plan for the years to achieve a greener economy for Kazakhstan. The Minister of Environmental Protection, Mr. Kapparov Nurlan Zhambulovich said, «The proposed green economic strategy will embrace virtually all the key sectors of the economy, including gas supply, waste recycling, transport infrastructure and operation, urban planning, agriculture, water resources, education, and dissemination of information.» Under this context, Almaty is preparing this document, which serves as an urban transport strategy to support the transition to a greener economy. 3.3 THE LOCAL CONTEXT In recent years, different departments in Akimat developed strategic development plans, master plans and action plans that partly supported sustainable transport policies. Departments in charge of roads, passenger transport, the economy, environmental protection, law enforcement, architecture and natural resource management each separately set long-term targets, identified major development directions and prioritized investments. For example, while the road department set a clear three-year action plan for the local road scheme, the passenger transport department separately released strategies and action plans for that were recently approved by the mayor. This document, however, confronts much larger challenges and proposes a clear overall strategy and action plan. It adopts ideas and concepts from different sources and integrates them into one consolidated framework to guide all relevant departments. 1 The national green economy goal is for 2020 GhG levels to be similar to levels in 2012, while in 2030 and 2050, GhG levels will drop by 15% and 50% respectively. With respect to air pollution, the strategy sets EU standards as an achievable goal for

11 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 11 Municipal budget allocation toward road development *2013 *2013 *based on estimation Source: Akimat However, while the traffic situation has improved over time, it has become evident that it is not sustainable, as will be discussed later in this report. It is important to ensure that the impacts of these investments will be efficient and in-line with the transport strategy policy. UNIQUE URBAN CHALLENGES Massive Urban Growth The City of Almaty expects significant population growth in the coming years. In preparation for this growth, the municipal architecture department has developed a new urban master plan. Under this master plan, the Alatau district is expected to increase by approximately 150,000 residents by the year 2020.Due to the expected population increase, it will be necessary to have a properly integrated transport system to ensure that the city will continue to grow in a sustainable manner. Almaty Population Growth Trend and the Major Area of Expected Population Growth Hosting International Events In 2017, Almaty will host the Winter Universiade games and will need to provide high quality transport services to the thousands of visitors that are expected to partake in the games Source: UNDP CAST analysis of Urban Master plan Massive Investments in Infrastructure The city is implementing major investments in transport infrastructure. In recent years, a significant amount of money was allocated to the development of new roads and additional road construction is planned.

12 12 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 3.4 THE URBAN TRANSPORT CONTEXT Previous Urban Transport Strategy Currently, there is no official urban transport strategy document that governs decisions for the sector in an integrated and balanced manner. However, the de-facto transport strategy has been to give priority to car users in implementing transport solutions. This strategy is evident from the following current activities: Massive road construction Free and unregulated parking in the city center No priority given to buses along roadways or at traffic signals No allocation of road space for bicycle facilities This de-facto strategy is far from sustainable. Increasing Pollution In spite of major investments in transport infrastructure in recent years, the current urban transport system in Almaty is far from being sustainable. Carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector in Almaty are expected to grow from an estimated 2.65 million tons in 2012 to 4.99 million tons by This growth in emissions undermines the general decrease in GHG emissions that Kazakhstan has seen in all of its other sectors. Other pollutants are also expected to grow dramatically. NoX pollutants, which include nitric acid is likely to increase by 60% while carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, which are toxic to humans, are expected to double by The current transport strategy is not sustainable. If no strategy change is made, pollution will increase by 75% in the next 10 years, and the total time commuters spend sitting in traffic will more than double. Increasing congestion and time spent in traffic The current performance of the transport system does not meet the City of Almaty s goals and objectives for transforming into a green economy. This situation, if left without intervention, is expected to deteriorate further. The current average auto traffic speed during the morning peak hour is 19 km/h. If no transport strategy changes are implemented the average auto traffic speed is projected to decrease to less than 15 km/h. Public transport will not provide an alternative to this congestion, as the average speed for PT is expected to decrease to 12 km/h. This is due primarily to a large increase in the number of cars in Almaty. Currently, approximately 500,000 cars registered on Almaty s roads. Over the next 10 years, this number is projected to increase to almost 800,000 registered cars. With such a large quantity of cars on Almaty s roads and a slowdown of average car speeds, the city is expected to lose 800,000 hours of productivity every working day. The time spent in traffic could have been used to contribute to the city s economic growth rather than impeding it.

13 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy THE PROCESS FOR CREATING A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR ALMATY To avoid this bleak future, this document presents a strategy for sustainable urban transport for Almaty. This strategy was prepared as part of the UNDP/GEF «City of Almaty Sustainable Transport» (CAST) project, that was launched in 2011, with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The Municipal Government of Almaty is the beneficiary and the national implementing agency for the CAST project. With this in mind, the mayor s office committed itself to prepare a sustainable transport strategy. The objective of the CAST project is to reverse the trend of increasing GHG emissions in the transport sector. This is being done elsewhere in the world by promoting the use of sustainable transport modes like public transport, walking and cycling, at the expense of private car use. As part of the CAST project, a International consultants stakeholders Modern travel demand model CAST - City of Almaty Sustaianble Transport Strategy new state-of-the-art travel demand model was developed, based on extensive data collection. This model was used extensively to compare various transport alternatives and scenarios for the development of a transport strategy. The following strategy was the result of an international and national effort. We estimate that current congestion is responsible for an economic loss of 210,000,000 KZT daily / 60,000,000,000 KZT annually. In 2023 we expect the economic loss to grow to 480,000,000 KZT daily / 140,000,000,000 KZT annually!!!

14 14 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 4. CHALLENGES Almaty s transport system is diverse and intense, and is composed of multi-modal urban public transport, including official and grey taxis, and different types and sizes of transport service vehicles. Additionally, there is growing private car ownership, new energy alternative vehicles, passenger and freight rail, and an international airport. Managing and synchronizing such a diverse system is challenging, and is made even more difficult for a city such as Almaty, due to dramatic economic growth and social change. What will happen if we continue our current car-oriented policy? Key 2023 Transportation Conditions Indicators: Congestion will increase significantly so that average morning peak hour trips will decrease from 19 km/hr to 15 km/hr Traffic congestion will spread to more streets and will extend to more hours during the day Time spent sitting in traffic congestion in Almaty will increase from 95 million person hours per year to 220 million person hours per year Pollution in the city, especially GHG emissions, will increase by 75% over the next 10 years The morning peak hour bus speed in the city will decrease from 15 km/hr to 12, increasing public transport operating costs Low income groups will be disconnected from city services The above describes a city unattractive to residents, and unable to contribute to national economic growth. A different approach is needed. The new approach calls for a sustainable transport policy.

15 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 15 The sustainable transport strategy in this document directly confronts these challenges. 4.1 INCREASING CONGESTION The City of Almaty has experienced rapid economic growth, which has resulted in a dramatic increase in car ownership by approximately 10% annually over the past decade. Coupled with sprawling development and suburbanization, high car ownership rates generate rising traffic congestion. While, in general, roads in Almaty are relatively wide, congestion is becoming a major problem on many arterial and collector streets, not only at peak hour, but also during the middle of the day. Current traffic speeds in the city at peak hours are as low as 19 km/h for private vehicles and are expected to slow even further as more roads reach saturation. As shown in the following maps, congestion will dominate all major arterials during peak hours. Moreover, during mid-day and late evening, traffic will slow significantly and will create major accessibility problems. Increasing congestion poses great environmental, economic, urban and social challenges for Almaty. This will be elaborated upon later in this report. GROWING CONGESTION IN ALMATY BY 2023 (RED = Traffic Jam / Yellow= Slow Down/ GREEN = Free Flow) Source: UNDP CAST Did you know? On many collector roads, congestion can be so severe that it is often faster to travel by bicycle than by car. When comparing the travel speeds of cycling to public transport, cycling is favored on most urban routes during peak hour.

16 16 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 4.2. ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE Increasing car use and continuous city sprawl generate rapid growth in overall vehicle kilometres travelled. It is estimated that motor vehicles in Almaty travel 5,780 million kilometres annually, with an annual growth rate of approximately 6.4%. 50% 40% 30% 20% Vehicle Distribution by Engine Type Euro 0 Euro 1 Euro 2 Euro 3 10% Euro 4 0 Cars and Trucks Source: UNDP CAST Buses Did you know? Overall, motor vehicles in Almaty burn up approximately 772 million litres of petroleum and diesel annually, with more than 90% being consumed by private vehicles. On the other hand, the average age of motor vehicles in Almaty is relatively old. In addition, the city is surrounded by the Alatau mountain range, which blocks wind circulation and prevents air pollution from dissipating. The consequence of all this is that the citizens of Almaty suffer, from serious air pollution, which reduces their quality of life and creates health problems. If the current transport policy, which favours cars, continues, GHG emissions will nearly double over the next ten years, from 2.6 tons emitted annually to 5 million tons by The same undesirable growth is predicted for other pollutants as well and will likely pose severe health problems for residents. This is unsustainable. A more environmentally friendly approach is needed. 4.3 NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE ECONOMY In recent years, Almaty enjoyed significant economic growth. However, this growth is heavily diminished by increasing congestion. Rising traffic congestion in Almaty results in a total of 220 million hours wasted by commuters annually. This wasted time could have contributed 140 billion KZT annually to Almaty s economic growth. Compounding this issue, firms may decide to move out the city center to locations in the surrounding area, causing even more traffic. Did you know? Without any change in strategy, GHG emissions from Almaty s road system are expected to increase by 75% in 10 years.

17 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy SOCIAL EXCLUSION While Almaty s roads and streets are congested with cars, many people can t afford proper mobility because private cars are too expensive. Many public transport passengers need to take more than one bus for their daily commute to work, doubling the cost of their trip. This causes low income individuals to be unable to afford the daily commute to work. In addition, people with reduced mobility will suffer even more. The elderly, disabled people and children, all face an unpleasant environment where private cars dominate. Did you know? A recent analysis shows that if no changes are made to the transport strategy, the time commuters will waste in traffic congestion will increase to 220 million hours per year within 10 years. Therefore, one of the challenges facing Almaty s transport system is the inclusion of the poor in the social structure and the provision of efficient, safe and affordable mobility. A recent survey on the socioeconomic level of Almaty s public transport riders revealed that 91% of public transport users belong to the lowermiddle income group. 4.5 UNATTRACTIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT Today, less than 30% of all trips are done by public transport (PT) in Almaty. PT modal share has declined in recent years and will continue to lose ground given increasing car ownership and poor levels of service. A recent survey revealed that only 5% of PT users have access to a private car, while the vast majority are «captive users,» having no choice but to take PT. This statistic makes clear how unsatisfied passengers and potential passengers are with the PT level of service, and implies a low opinion of the system s image. Although substantial investments have been made in public transport recently, improvements are mostly related to rolling stock («hardware»). To improve the quality of public transport and offer an attractive alternative to car use, the focus should shift to overall quality improvements for public transport. Improvements should include, a well-designed route network, sufficient capacity, and high quality passenger information. Did you know? In developed cities with good public transport systems, such as Zurich, Paris and London, the share of public transport for all trips is more than 60%.

18 18 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy Public transport in Almaty suffers from various challenges which are not unique to the city: 1. Lack of Integration. The metro system is not well connected to the tram network, nor does the bus network properly feed passengers into the metro. Furthermore, the current plan for the first LRT line in Almaty does not include a connection to the metro and the ticketing system for the various modes does not integrate them. 2. Low operating speed. Buses are the major public transport mode in Almaty. The average bus speed is approximately 14 km/h, and in many cases closer to 10 km/h. Even during midday hours, buses operate at very low speeds. 3. Crowded buses. Most buses are overcrowded during the entire day, since sufficient capacity is not provided. Modern low floor buses and articulated buses are not available in Almaty. Did you know? The bus system in Almaty is among the most overcrowded systems in the world with over 950 passengers per bus per day. Passenger dissatisfaction is at 60% with the most common complaint being that buses are too crowded. 4. Short operating hours. Most public transport operators run only one driving shift per day, starting relatively late (typically 07:00) and terminating service earlier than needed (typically 20:00). This creates severe shortages in service which drives more passengers to use private cars, expensive taxis or even skip their trip altogether. 5. Old and highly polluting vehicles. While new CNG vehicles and trolleybuses were introduced in recent years, the majority of the bus fleet is old and of poor quality. This reduces the attractiveness of the service, increases maintenance costs for operators and contributes to overall pollution in the city. 6. One ticket per boarding. A lack of an integrated ticketing system means that passengers who use single tickets and need to switch from one bus to another, have to pay twice. This creates a major affordability challenge for low income families who spend a high proportion of their earnings on public transport. 7. No passenger information. The existing public transport system has a theoretical timetable, but in practice runs buses with irregular frequency. Passengers waiting at stops do not have any information about the arrival of the next bus. In most cases, bus stops have no name, nor signs or maps of the bus routes or system. Did you know? Almaty s public transport hardly operates in the late evening. Only 25% of bus routes operate after 20:30 and a mere 5% operate after 22: Poor network service. The current bus network was developed when Almaty was smaller and less developed, and only minor adjustments have been made since its growth. Due to changes in travel patterns and urban development, the system is far from optimal. 9. No priority on roads or at traffic signals. Unlike many cities worldwide, Almaty s buses lack both dedicated bus lanes and priority at traffic signals.

19 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy LACK OF INTEGRATION BETWEEN TRANSPORT AND URBAN PLANNING Almaty s urban master plan proposes the addition of major new land uses to the city, including a large residential neighbourhood in Alatau and other areas, as well as big commercial land development in several locations. These projects often do not consider the negative impacts they may produce on the current transport system, because a traffic impact analysis is usually not conducted. New road developments do not include proper bus stop facilities, bus lanes, bicycle lanes and pedestrian facilities. Did you know? As many as 206,000 people travel to Almaty from nearby communities daily, but only 23% of them do so by public transport (and those who do, do so mainly using unofficial PT). New Shopping Projects Planned for Almaty 4.7. URBAN SPRAWL Many metropolitan areas in the world suffer from ongoing suburbanization and sprawl. Negative impacts of sprawl include longer travel times, high trip costs, limited or non-existent public transport service, social segregation, difficulty in promoting cycling as a mode of transport, high spending on new roads, and the loss of open spaces and natural beauty. While some cities, most notably in eastern Asia, manage to limit sprawl, others, including Almaty, face serious challenges in this regard. Best practices encourage metropolitan areas to return activity to the heart of the city rather than focus development on suburbanization, and leading to increased vibrancy and attractiveness by most standards. Because Almaty is currently growing the most at its periphery and in neighbouring communities, the city needs to reconsider the above implications and make a clear decision with regards to how it implements the recommendations within this transport strategy and applies them to the urban master plan. 4.8 NO PARKING OR ACTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Traffic management is a cost effective tool that can alleviate congestion rapidly. For example, at many intersections, long queues form because of a lack of dedicated left turn lanes and left turn signals. In addition, on most of the downtown streets, there are no parking regulations, allowing commuters to park their cars for the entire day for free and without restriction. This increases the number of cars that enter and leave the city center on a daily basis. The problem is not road capacity, because streets are generally quite wide. Rather, this issue is the use of road space. Chaotic parking takes up a lot of road capacity and there is

20 20 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy a lack of dedicated left turn lanes at intersections. Thus, road capacity is not the key issue causing congestion, but the way that the capacity is managed. Using road space more effectively could reduce congestion significantly. Worldwide, there are plenty of technological parking solutions (smart phone applications, Short Message Service text messaging, magnetic parking cards, payment booths, or even old fashion paper cards). Parking solutions in Almaty are managed and regulated manually with parking guards collecting money and managing parking spaces (both on the road and in parking garages) ROAD SAFETY CONCERN Urban areas are exposed to high levels of conflict between different transportation modes that share and cross the same limited space. Increasing traffic further increases the significant challenges that that impact road safety. Pedestrians and cyclists are most exposed to severe injuries and fatalities from a collision with a motor vehicle. In 2011, 60% of all car accident fatalities were pedestrians. This is an unacceptable rate compared to international urban pedestrian fatality levels (20-40%). Only a comprehensive strategy with clear targets, a budget and a strong action plan can lead to a reduction in car accidents, thereby saving lives LACK OF CAPACITY AND ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY Urban transport planning requires a professional staff, several technical tools and open-minded decisions making. Relevant staff in Akimat involved in planning the future transport system and maintaining the existing system, are well experienced and skilled, but staff is limited in number. In addition, the organizational structure of the municipality is not properly defined with respect to transportation issues. Responsibility for transportation is divided among multiple departments without a sufficient clear coordination mechanism between them. This hampers an integrated approach toward sustainable transport solutions UNSATISFACTORY REGULATORY FRAMEWORK The current regulatory framework for the provision of transport services is not well defined. Public transport operators do not always work under a uniform license and do not always meet the service level agreement. Such practices damage the level of service for passengers, and in some cases, even expose operators to unnecessary losses.

21 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy VISION AND GOALS 5.1 A TRANSPORT VISION FOR ALMATY In order to facilitate the development of a long-lasting, fast, affordable, accessible, sustainable and financially stable transportation system in Almaty, the Akimat has developed the following vision: In 2023, the citizens of Almaty will enjoy a transport system that is integrated, sustainable and safe, with high-quality services for the entire population. The transport system will contribute to the city s economic development with a limited environmental footprint. Almaty s transport system has to meet a wide range of needs and support different types of activities and population groups. Our first goal for the transport system is for it to support the economic growth of the city and the nation overall. As Almaty transforms into a major national and regional hub and business centre, we need to ensure that the transport system can facilitate such growth. The city is committed to continuing its rapid economic and urban development through the provision of a sound multi-modal transport system for the benefit of its residents, its employees and its visitors. The second goal is for the transport system is to promote social development by ensuring that the entire population receives affordable, fast and reliable access to different types of activities across the entire metropolitan area. The City of Almaty will maintain its commitment to providing reliable and affordable transportation to its most vulnerable populations (pensioner, youth, people with special needs, etc.) which in many cases have no access to a private car. The city will provide high-quality transport to ensure access to medical, social and community services. Our third goal, which is critical to sound economic and social development, is the need to reduce the environmental impact of the transport system. The city will prioritize cleaner and environmentally friendly modes of transport at the expense of existing dominant car use, in order to improve air quality in the city and reduce its environmental footprint on the planet. The city will also commit to providing high-quality transport services that promote a more efficient use of land and protect existing open and green spaces. The last goal is to make the transport system safe and secure, especially to those who are currently at high risk of automobile related injury (such as pedestrians and cyclists). All people travelling in or through Almaty should be confident that they can use our transport network free from the threat of harm. While this will directly impact public wellbeing, it will also provide an indirect benefit to society in economic terms. The ultimate goal of this vision is to make Almaty an attractive city in which to live and work; a city that cares about the quality of life of its citizens and its business community. Promote Social Development Support Economic Growth Reduce Environmental Impact Maximize Safety These four goals are summarized in the figure below

22 22 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 5.2 SETTING HIGH LEVEL POLICIES In order to obtain the vision and the goals set above, the city adopted eight major transport policies. These policies will govern decision making in Almaty over the next 10 years. The following chart illustrates these policies: IMPROVE LEVEL OF SERVICE OF PT PROMOTE CYCLING AND WALKING MANAGE PARKING ALMATY SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT POLICY INTEGRATE TRANSPORT AND URBAN PLANNING DEVELOP THE ROAD NETWORK IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER INTEGRATE THE SUBURBAN TRANSPORT NETWORK WITH THE CITY MANAGE TRAFFIC PROMOTE LOW EMISSION CAR AND ZONES For each policy area, several measures and strategies were developed and are presented in the following section.

23 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy SETTING CLEAR AND MEASURABLE TARGETS In order to select the most efficient transportation strategy, a set of quantitative measures that can be defined and referred to periodically will need to be implemented. This procedure will ensure that plans and investments are sound and incrementally shift the city toward achieving its goals. The following table presents the targets that have been defined: Target Status Intermediate Target 2017 Target Share of sustainable transport modes (public transport, walking and cycling) 42% 44% 55% 2 Share of MRT (Metro, LRT, BRT) 1% 7% 20% 3 Number of MRT corridors Share of residents living in a radius of 500 meters from a MRT stop 12% 30% 60% 5 Number of MRT corridors 10% 14% 25% 6 Reduction in GHG emissions Base -10% -31%4 7 Reduction of overall car accident fatalities Reduction in pedestrian fatalities (annually) In addition, the city has set three additional qualitative targets: Target #9: An affordable and accessible public transport network for all population groups; especially the elderly, the youth, and the disabled. Target #10: Base all decisions regarding investments in transport infrastructure on a cost-benefit analysis, where benefits are derived from an up-to-date Travel Demand Model. TOD Target #11: Evaluate each new major land use development using a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA). A transit oriented development (TOD) policy should be adopted for all future land use development decisions. Target #12: Establish a regulated and automated parking scheme. Parking operation and enforcement will be based on available technological solutions that will enable better management of parking space. The parking duration will be capped and parking capacity in the city will not increase. 3 Source: Transportation surveys, September-November 2012 (UNDP /GEF-CAST project) 4 Relative to the no intervention scenario (Status 2023). ). Assuming the same energy types as today. Improved energy sources, includ ing electric energy will reduce emissions further 5 Source: Департамент технической службы МВД в соответствии с приказом МВД г.

24 24 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 6. POLICIES AND MEASURES In this chapter we present high-level policies in more detail and specific measures that the city will adopt. Together, these policies and measures form the new sustainable transport strategy for Almaty The City of Almaty set eight strategic policies that will facilitate the sustainable development of a prosperous city. The high-level policies are further divided into a set of 8 policies. Promote Social Development Support Economic Growth Reduce Environmental Impact Maximize Safety Policy Index Measure economic social environment environment 1-A Set integrated hierarchical PT scheme Improve level of service of PT 2. Promote cycling and walking 3. Manage parking 1-B Develop a backbone Mass Rapid Transit system C Reorganize the PT network D Integrate electronic ticketing system E Integratepassengers information system + 1-F Improved public transport vehicles G Higher frequencies and longer operating times H Dedicated bus lanes and priority at traffic signals I Introduce school bus service J Affordable ticket pricing + 1-K Dealing with Driver Human Resource Deficits A Construct cycling paths and cycling parking spaces B Introduce a cycling rental scheme C Integrate cycling and PT D Launch cycling public awarness campaign E Develop design guidelines for bicycle lanes F Introduce new pedestrian zones in city centre G Design zebra crossing and overhead passes A Introduce regulated parking at an appropriate fee B Differentiate prices within the city centre C Introduce a residentialpermit system D Enforce parking regulations using physical means E Prepare a parking system monitoring programme F Provide Park&Ride parking lots outside the city centre G Eliminate parking on arterial roads + +

25 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 25 4-A Define hierarchical network and strengthen arterial roads B Introduce a one-way traffic system at some main streets Manage Traffic 5. Integrate Urban and Transport planning 6. Road network development 7.Suburban & long distance 8. Promote low emission 4-C Provide priority to buses at traffic signals D Provide traffic light phasing for left turn at traffic signals E Introduce roundabouts in local streets F Smart traffic signal system (traffic management system) G Consider "shared space " concept in local streets H Manage freight and goods vehicles I Promote car pool programmes to major commute destinations A Plan future development of the city along transit corridors B Adopt a mandatory traffic impact assessment (TIA) procedure C Set a long term master plan D Promote urban infill in the city centre A Construct new roads to strengthen the hierarchy of the road network B Convert inner road to support sustainable modes C Introduce separated bus lanes, cycling paths and sidewalks as a standard for any new road D Set 10-year rehabilitation program A Provide high quality PT service to and from suburbs B Provide P&R facilities near PT terminals in suburbs C Buildtransit hubs D Plan the future of the train service E Support the develpoment of a new airport with high standard PT service to city centre A Introduce a low emission zone in the city centre B Promote use of zero emission vehicles + 8-C Use cleaner fuel for buses and private vehicles D Introducea scrapping plan for old vehicles and buses + + +

26 26 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy The city is committed to providing a transport system for the citizens of Almaty that will implement a system with measures defined in the acronym «FARSICOM»: Fast & Frequent, Affordable, Reliable, Safe and Simple to use, Integrative, Comfortable, Operationally sustainable, and having full Metropolitan Coverage. In 10 years, public transport in Almaty will be so attractive that car owners will prefer to use public transport for their trips. Public transport will also become affordable to low income groups, connecting them to all the services that the city has to offer, including work, education, social and recreational activities. The backbone of the system will be a fast mass rapid transit network (MRT). This network, spread all over the city, will include an extended metro line, two new and fast lines of Light Rail Transit (LRT), six new routes of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and several new bus-only lanes. All public transport modes will be integrated and connected: the metro will connect with the LRT lines, which will connect to the BRT and the bus network. Passengers will be able to transfer easily from one mode to another with no additional cost and with the knowledge of real time information provided at all stations and on the internet. This will enable passengers to know when the next vehicle will arrive at the station. To achieve this, the strategy includes the following measures: * 1-A. SET INTEGRATED HIERARCHICAL PT SCHEME Technology 6.1 IMPROVE LEVEL OF SERVICE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT GENERAL Layer A Layer B Layer C Layer D Metro &LRT BRT Principle line Feeder line Rail-based Articulated clean bus (Trolley, CNG) Capacity of rolling stock pass pass Buses of mixed type and size Articulated (100) & Solo (70) Buses of mixed type and size midi (35) # of routes Right of way Exclusive Mostly exclusive Partial (on bus lanes) - Speed (peak) km/hr km/hr 20 km/hr 20 km/hr Frequency 3-6 minutes 2-5 minutes 6-15 min 3-10 min The cornerstone of the PT strategy is the development of a hierarchical transit scheme, providing different types of services simultaneously. Rail-based transit (Metro and LRT) will be at the top of the pyramid providing a high capacity and high speed solution. BRT will operate on major commuting corridors. The third layer will be operated by standard frequent buses and the bottom layer will be feeder bus lines operated with smaller minibuses. * on the side of each measure, appears pyramid containing the colors of the fields in which the measure associated with (the full pyramid is on Page 24)

27 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 27 1-B. DEVELOP A BACKBONE MRT SYSTEM PT can only attract passengers from cars if it is fast and reliable. This is made possible by the introduction of a MRT network. Over the next 10 years, we intend to develop a comprehensive MRT network that will span the entire city and provide quick access to most activities. The MRT network will be composed of 3 systems, as demonstrated in the following graph: Metro Light Rail (LRT) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Surface Underground On ground On ground Priority Full Best effort Partial Speed 50 km/hr km/hr km/hr Capacity 400 passengers 250 passengers passengers Distance between 700-1,000 meters meters meters Energy source Electric Electric Varied (electric, CNG, Diesel) Number of lines 1-2 lines 2-4 lines 4-6 lines EXAMPLE OF MRT SYSTEMS FROM TURKEY Metro: Ankara, (Ankaray), Daily passenger per line =175,000 daily, frequency in peak = 3 minutes. Stop every 1 KM. 33 rolling stocks Light Rail: Kayseri (Kayseray), Daily = 99,013, frequency: every 6 min., stop every 600 meters, 25 trams Bus Rapid Transit: Istanbul (MetroBus): daily per line = 200,000. Stops = articulated buses 1-C. REORGANIZE THE PT NETWORK All PT lines will be reorganized to realize an integrated network in which each line compliments the other. Buses will feed MRT stops and a single integrated and user-friendly map will help passengers use the system easily so that even infrequent users will be able to find their way without difficulty. 1-D. DEVELOP AN ADVANCED AND INTEGRATED TICKETING SYSTEM Passengers will be able to treat all PT as a single system. They will need only one electronic ticket to transfer between all modes (Metro, LRT, BRT and Bus). New fare types will be developed, especially for those who use public transport regularly. For these passengers, monthly tickets, daily tickets or multi-trip tickets will be available at a relatively low cost, thus making public transport affordable to poor people that depend on PT for their daily movement. Each ticket, regardless of its type, will enable a free transfer between all modes of the network.

28 28 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 1-E. INTEGRATE PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM All passengers will be able to get real time information at each stop in order to know, not only when the next vehicle will arrive at the station, but also information about the availability and real-time schedule of all other public transport modes that serve the station. Real-time information will be available on the internet as well, and a special smart phone application will allow passengers to plan their trip and know when they should travel to their station. Information about the route will also be available on-board vehicles. Electronic signs will display the direction of travel and the name of the next station. This information will also be announced audibly through a modern audio system to allow vision impaired people to use the system. All stops will have information available regarding routes serving the stop, time-tables and a route map. 1-F. INCREASED AND IMPROVED PT VEHICLES Within a period of five years, the city expects to have over 600 CNG buses ( ). We intend to continue expanding the bus fleet and encourage private operators to purchase new vehicles of higher standards. New buses will be more client-oriented: low floor, air conditioned, quiet and non-polluting, with three doors. Some of the new buses will be articulated to provide more space for passengers. 1-G. HIGHER FREQUENCIES AND LONGER OPERATING TIMES To cope with projected demand, the bus service will improve significantly. Bigger buses will be put into service (articulated buses with a capacity of 120 passengers), the frequency of service will increase, and operating hours will be extended at night. 1-I. INTRODUCE SCHOOL BUS SERVICE A survey conducted among parents in Almaty showed that many people take their car to work in the morning because they need to transport their children to school first. We will therefore plan a pilot program to consider reviving school bus service.

29 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 29 1-J. AFFORDABLE COST The user cost of the public transport system will be affordable to all passengers and cheap enough to encourage passengers to shift to public transport. In addition, vulnerable populations will enjoy discounted fares. If necessary, PT operators will be compensated to keep fares low and discounted. 1-H. DEDICATED BUS LANES AND PRIORITY AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS To allow buses to operate smoothly and reliably, they will be given priority on roads. Along many main streets, special bus lanes will be allocated, and buses will be given priority at some traffic signals to minimize waiting time. 1-K. DEALING WITH DRIVER HUMAN RESOURCE DEFICITS The city s public transport system is constrained by human resource issues, such as recruitment, retention, training and provision of resources for vehicle operators. This deficit in human resources impacts negatively on PT service. Despite Akimat s efforts to organize training programs in local colleges, the lack of suitable vehicle operators remains a significant constraint in efforts to improve PT service. The perceived prestige of the transit driver profession is low and must be elevated in order to increase the human resource supply for this profession. A related issue is the need to improve working conditions for vehicle operators. Regulation and enforcement of rules calling for appropriate labour conditions and working hours are not present, and there is a degradation of physical conditions such as driver terminals for drivers to refresh themselves. These issues require a concerted, coordinated and holistic effort in order to improve conditions.

30 30 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 6.2 PROMOTE CYCLING AND WALKING GENERAL In the past 10 years, cycling and walking have become important modes of transport in major cities worldwide. Congestion, increasing pollution, health awareness or cultural mind shifts, are some of the factors contributing to worldwide cycling revolutions that have taken place over the past decade. In many cities like London and Paris, the share of cycling trips doubles every 2-3 years. Akimat plans to speed up and keep pace with the international trend making cycling an attractive, clean, safe, convenient, accessible and affordable mode of transport. During the four winter months (November-March), cycling may not be suitable for everyone, but during the rest of the year, our city has the potential to become a cycling-oriented city. In the past, Akimat paid limited attention to the potential walking has to become a significant mode of transport. Walking has a positive impact on the environment, economy and personal well-being. Akimat intends to invest both in facilities and awareness for promoting walking. 2-A. CONSTRUCT CYCLING PATHS AND CYCLING PARKING SPACES In a large city like Almaty, the use of bicycles for everyday trips is highly dependent on the availability of a network of dedicated bicycle lanes that are safe to use and allow for continuous travel to all major destinations in the city. In addition to lanes, Akimat intends to install bicycle parking facilities throughout the city in major activity centres. This will allow bicycle owners to park their bicycles safely in shopping centres, universities, schools, major office centres, etc. 2-B. INTRODUCE A CYCLING RENTAL SCHEME Bicycle sharing allows city residents to cycle around the city without the need to own a bicycle. Usually, people need to subscribe to the system and then can take a bike at any one of the service points in the city and park it at any other service point. The success of this scheme is dependent on the availability of the bicycle network and the number of service points throughout the city. Akimat will develop such a scheme for the benefit of its residents and visitors alike. The system will reach around the city in major

31 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 31 central locations. The scheme will also offer a complementary means of transport to and from Metro stations. By positioning points of rental in residential blocks and additional points next to nearby Metro stations, we will increase the service area of the Metro station and significantly increase its ridership. Such a concept is illustrated below. 2-C. INTEGRATE CYCLING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT At all MRT stops, Akimat intends to provide safe bicycle parking facilities to allow citizens to combine cycling and public transport in an easy way. The parking facilities will be close to the boarding and alighting point, making public transport more accessible. Akimat intends to test options to allow bicycles on public transport - Metro, future LRT and buses (using special racks). 2-D. LAUNCH A CYCLING PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Because Almaty residents are not used to cycling for daily activities, Akimat will launch a major public awareness campaign to highlight the benefits and possibilities provided by daily cycling and to educate users about proper and safe cycling. The campaign will target different population groups such as university and high school students and young people between the ages of Large employers will play a special role in advocating cycling as a mode of transport to work. Akimat intends to approach major employers to develop specific cycling facilities for their employees. Such facilities usually include dedicated parking and on-site showers. Walking will also be promoted as part of the daily physical activity plan based on the recommendation of the World Health Organization. 2-E. DEVELOP DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR BICYCLE LANES To ensure that any future upgrade of existing roads or construction of new roads will include bicycle lanes, Akimat will develop new design guidelines that will commit all designers to develop bike lanes and present standards for the inclusion of bicycle infrastructure on every street cross section.

32 32 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 2-F. INTRODUCE NEW PEDESTRIAN ZONES IN THE CITY CENTRE To promote walking, we intend to introduce several pedestrian-only zones in the city centre. The benefit of creating such zones is plentiful: first, it encourages people to walk for short distance trips (for instance at lunch time). Secondly, it provides a great space for family gatherings and social outdoor activity. Third, pedestrian space attracts local and foreign tourists and promotes economic activity. Finally, pedestrian areas by their nature eliminate traffic; reduce noise and pollution, and create an attractive space for people to congregate in the middle of the city. Accessibility to these zones will be possible using public transport and cycling. This will stimulate the development of a lively street life, with cafes, restaurants and outdoor public events. This can be the first step toward the creation of a low emissions zone city centre, where traffic is limited, if not forbidden in some cases, and polluting vehicles are restricted. Our target is to increase pedestrian zones three fold by 2023 and to double them by F. DESIGN ZEBRA CROSSINGS AND OVERHEAD PASSES FOR PEDESTRIANS In order to enhance accessibility and promote road traffic safety we intend to design additional zebra crossings at streets with high volume of pedestrian activities, such as Abbay St. The benefit with regards to pedestrian safety is obvious and is achieved through other traffic calming measures like dedicated traffic lights next to zebra crossing, traffic bumps and so on. The second benefit, improved accessibility for pedestrians and PT users, is achieved by shortening walking distances. Our guideline is to provide safe crossing space every meters at maximum. On arterial roads, overhead passes will be erected, so as not to hinder fast moving traffic. While such overhead passes are not typically pedestrian friendly, we will promote them on roads where car traffic is prioritized over pedestrian traffic, such as Al-Farabi. Special attention, however, will be given to the provision of optimal accessibility to these passes for pedestrians of all groups (stair-free crossing, lights, etc.). 6.3 ON-STREET PARKING MANAGEMENT GENERAL Parking infrastructure and regulation has a substantial impact on the travel behaviour of residents, and affects their daily decision making. A Parking policy is a powerful element in creating a livable and economically prosperous city. A parking policy creates and offers space. It creates space for urban quality of life, such as space where the residents of the city can meet, recreate and where children can play. It offers space for parking for functions that add value to the city. A livable city is one designed for people. It is a city that supports residents and that supports visitors who visit the city for cultural, social and economic purposes. Our green transport policy will modify parking conditions in the city centre. Our parking strategy is therefore based on the following 4 main objectives:

33 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 33 Providing enough parking space for residents to park their cars near their homes; Providing enough parking spaces for visitors to the centre either for cultural, social or commercial purposes. Using the available parking space as efficient as possible. Creating a framework that allows investment in new and alternative parking provisions A separate parking strategy document has been prepared during This chapter provides a short overview of the main strategic points, measures and action plans. Institutional aspects of the parking policy are elaborated upon in chapter 7. THE FOLLOWING SET OF MEASURES ARE USED IN ORDER TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES: 3-A. INTRODUCING REGULATED PARKING AT AN APPROPRIATE FEE Paid parking will be introduced in the centre of Almaty where parking is scarce and demand is high. The actual parking fee level will be determined by considering a wide range of aspects and needs. Regulated parking will prioritize short time visitors over commuters who park for the entire day. 3-B. DIFFERENTIATING PRICES WITHIN THE CENTRE The fare in the regulated parking area in the city centre will not be flat. Rather, it will vary based on the attractiveness of the zone. The centre will be split into 2-3 sub zones, and will offer different parking fares for visitors. 3-C. INTRODUCING A RESIDENT S PERMIT SYSTEM Residents will enjoy free parking upon purchasing a relatively cheap annual permit. Such a permit will secure their parking rights near their place of residence. However, no parking space will be reserved specifically for residents. When residents are not present during the day, the parking space will be available for visitors. 3-D. ENFORCING PARKING REGULATION VIA PARKING WARDENS AND USING PHYSICAL MEANS WHERE POSSIBLE Akimat will enforce parking regulations by setting up a team of parking wardens that control parking regulations and issue fines to violators (illegal parking and non-paying drivers), and will ensure the parking scheme is implemented and its objective are met. Parking wardens cannot be everywhere all the time. That is why it is also necessary to implement «physical means» of enforcement such as bollards that prevent cars from parking on sidewalks.

34 34 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 3-E. PREPARING A PARKING SYSTEM MONITORING PROGRAMME Akimat will develop a parking monitoring program aimed at managing the parking system in a professional manner. The results of parking monitoring will help the Municipality to make adjustments to the regulatory system (price, controls needed, etc.) Monitoring data will also be linked to dynamic signs that will divert traffic towards a nearby available parking space. 3-F. PROVIDING PARK & RIDE PARKING LOTS OUTSIDE THE CENTRE Many drivers would like to use the MRT system but do not have the service available at their point of origin. They might approach the city boundary by car and then switch to MRT. For this reason, Akimat plans to introduce several new P&R parking lots major MRT stations. Parking at these lots will be free and the lots will often be guarded to provide drivers with a feeling of security. 6.4 ACTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT GENERAL Traffic management is all about squeezing more out of what you have by optimizing operations, redistributing scarce resources such as right of way or intersection phases, or just by better operating and managing the existing system such as parking, goods delivery vehicles, bus fleets, etc. Traffic management also offers great opportunities to actually reduce congestion while prioritizing public transport and other sustainable modes. It is normally considered as a win-win strategy where all users enjoy better management of the system. In recent years, the concept has been developed into a vision of the «Smart City». Akimat intends to implement different transport related components that can transform the city into a «Smart City». 4-A. DEFINE HIERARCHICAL ROAD NETWORK AND STRENGTHEN ARTERIAL ROADS The road system needs to be hierarchical in order to offer different levels of service to different types of movements. This is particularly critical in a large and sprawling city like Almaty, where different routes are available. The top of the scheme will have a set of freeways which will allow non-stop mobility to motorized traffic. Freeways will serve incoming traffic to the city as well as through-traffic. This layer will be limited in nature and will include one or two ring roads. The second layer, which is the backbone of the urban

35 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 35 road system, is the arterial roads network, in which motorized traffic (primarily cars and trucks) will be prioritized; parking will be limited and pedestrian crossings will be minimized to facilitate motor vehicle mobility. The third layer is the primary roads network (sometime referred as feeder roads), in which mixed traffic including pedestrian and cycling is served. This layer provides access to different land uses by providing parking and pedestrian infrastructure. The last layer is the local street network which is based on a grid of small streets where parking and pedestrian movement are favoured at the expense of motor vehicle mobility. 4-B. INTRODUCE A ONE-WAY TRAFFIC SYSTEM AT SOME MAIN STREETS On some main roads, the traffic is slow due to the need to provide many left turn movements. We intend to explore the feasibility of introducing a one-way traffic system on several main corridors, to enable traffic to flow more rapidly. In these cases, one road will allow traffic to flow in one direction and a parallel road will allow traffic to flow in the opposite direction. This may extend the length of some trips, but it will allow for smoother traffic flow. 4-C. PROVIDE PRIORITY TO BUSES AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS On many streets, the number of passengers on buses is much higher than the number of passengers in private cars, although the number of cars is higher than the number of buses. Therefore, giving priority to buses at traffic signals is justified to minimize passengers waiting time. This requires special equipment on the bus and in the traffic controller. Priority will be provided to buses that use dedicated bus lanes. 4-D. ADD DEDICATED LEFT TURN LANES IN CRITICAL INTERSECTIONS Many long queues are a result of not enough capacity for left turning vehicles. The overflow of these vehicles blocks the whole street section and causes major traffic jams. During 2013, Akimat started adding left turn lanes to congested intersections. We intend to map all problematic intersections in the city and consider the introduction of dedicated left turn lanes so that thorough-traffic will not be disturbed. If necessary, special left turn phases at traffic signals will be added.

36 36 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 4-E. INTRODUCE TRAFFIC CIRCLES (ROUNDABOUT) IN LOCAL AND COLLECTOR STREETS On many local streets and some collector streets, it is preferable to introduce traffic circles instead of a standard at-grade intersection. These circles are safer, beautify the city and can provide increased traffic flow from all directions. Speed on streets accessing the roundabout will be reduced to 30 km/hr while roundabout geometric speed will be even lower (typically 25 km/hr). Cyclists and pedestrian will benefit from these traffic calming measures. We intend to define the road map for traffic signal installation for the upcoming 10 years by identifying candidate intersections in residential areas, considering the impact of such changes using engineering tools, and then selecting a list of projects as part of a multi-year plan. 4-F. SMART TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM A metropolitan automatic traffic light management system will be introduced in Almaty. The system will provide real-time analysis of road conditions and congestion and will manage the smart traffic light system that will ensure the efficient usage of intersection space. Traffic light sensors will be installed at intersections and will communicate with the traffic management centre, which will monitor traffic constantly and will adjust to real-time traffic conditions. The system will also provide a base for various routing applications online and on mobile devices. In addition, it will serve as a principle tool in managing traffic in crisis circumstances and special events. 4-G. CONSIDER A SHARED SPACE CONCEPT ON LOCAL STREETS The city will design and consider the implementation of the shared space concept on suitable roads, where the right of way is used by all types of movement without physical separation. The shared space concept will increase pedestrian accessibility, improve safety standards for all users and reduce through traffic. 4-H. MANAGE FREIGHT & GOODS VEHICLES Heavy trucks (including ones with hazardous materials), will be diverted onto bypassing roads, and will be completely prohibited from entering the city centre during peak hours. In addition, the city will develop a parking lot for heavy vehicles in the outskirt of the city. Akimat will define clear guidelines for heavy duty truck traffic within the city and will define clear restrictions on the hauling of hazardous material. 4-I. PROMOTE A CARPOOL PROGRAMME Carpooling is an ideal cost-saving arrangement, particularly for those individuals who commute long distances to and from work each day, have limited access to public transit, and arrive and depart from work on a relatively set schedule. The city will promote a carpooling program in the near future, and encourage businesses to organize transportation of staff to major employment centres.

37 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy INTEGRATE URBAN AND TRANSPORT PLANNING GENERAL Our city experiences fast and dynamic economic growth and social change which requires intensive development plans. Future urban plans will be largely affected by mobility and accessibility. The interaction and integration of urban and transport planning will be at the heart of any future master plan. In order to achieve long-lasting urban development, Akimat will promote the following measures: 5-A. PLAN FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a mixed-use residential and commercial development style designed to maximize access to public transport and often incorporating features to encourage transit ridership. Transit-oriented development (TOD) brings compact, mixed-use development within walking distance of high capacity rapid transit. TOD features vibrant streetscapes, pedestrian-oriented built forms, and land use characteristics that make it convenient and safe to walk, cycle, and use public transport. Because we plan to significantly improve the service of PT in Almaty, we intend to plan future development of the city around the new MRT corridors. Planning will also include the design of cycling and walking facilities, to increase the total use of sustainable modes of travel. The development of these corridors will take time, but that is often the case with new land use plan implementation. In this way, the additional population that will live and work in the city will primarily use sustainable modes for their trips. 5-B. ADOPT A MANDATORY TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT (TIA) PROCEDURE In most cities worldwide, it is mandatory to evaluate the impact of major land use plans on traffic. This is done by comparing the traffic situation with and without the proposed development, using an up-to-date travel demand model for the city. This procedure, called a Traffic Impact Assessment, is mandatory by law, similar to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is also mandatory for most projects in Kazakhstan. Until now, a TIA was not undertaken because there was no relevant travel demand model that could compare a «before-after» situation. However, now that Almaty has such a model, we intend to adopt a mandatory TIA procedure. Once this procedure is in effect, every developer will have to mitigate traffic problems caused by proposed development at his own cost. For example, these procedures would be applicable to the development of all new shopping malls.

38 38 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 5-C. SET UP A LONG-TERM URBAN MASTER PLAN SYNCHRONIZED WITH TRANSPORT PLANNING The next urban master plan will be assembled together with the development of the transportation plan. The long-term urban master plan will use the recently developed travel demand model for Almaty, which can provide guidelines for sound long-term development. 5-D: PROMOTE URBAN INFILL IN THE ALMATY CITY CENTRE The city will support intensification of land uses in the city centre and will try to minimize suburbanization. This will be achieved by promoting the development of high-rise buildings (primarily for residential and employment purposes) in the city centre. 6.6 SUSTAINABLE ROAD NETWORK DEVELOPMENT The focus of our strategy is to promote the use of sustainable transport modes: public transport, walking and cycling. However, the majority of vehicles in the city using the road system will still be private cars. Moreover, in 10 years, the number of cars is expected to increase by 25%-35% (almost 3% annually), even with the implementation of our strategy. These cars will have to travel smoothly to provide mobility and accessibility to car users. Therefore, our transport strategy deals with car traffic as well. 6-A. CONSTRUCT NEW ROADS TO STRENGTHEN THE HIERARCHY OF THE ROAD NETWORK Almaty s road network should provide two contradictory functions: fast mobility, to allow cars to move from one point to another quickly, and accessibility, to allow car users to park their cars and access destinations. In order to provide these two functions efficiently, there is a need to create a hierarchical road network in which high level roads provide fast mobility and no accessibility, and lower level roads provide accessibility but with low levels of mobility. In a balanced city, around 70% of all kilometres travelled by all vehicles is done on only 30% of the road network; the arterial roads and freeways. Today, travel in Almaty is not balanced, as many trips cross the central area without needing to stop there. Therefore, Akimat intends to further develop the road network in a manner that will lead to an increased road use balance. 6-B. CONVERT THE INNER ROADS TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE MODES While construction of new roads will be targeted mainly to the arterial and freeway system, an inner road network will be adopted to allow the inclusion of sustainable modes, such as public transport and cycling. Dedicated bus lanes and dedicated busways for BRT will be introduced, as well as dedicated bicycle lanes in place of travelling and parking lanes.

39 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 39 The development of new roads and extensions or enhancements of existing roads under specific circumstances will still occur. Road development should be carefully appraised against other alternatives and should be implemented if it is found that a link that would promote mobility is missing. Part of this policy will be to enable the allocation of separated lanes for high occupancy vehicles, as well as cycling paths. The city will also consider better connectivity from suburban areas to the city centre, if needed. In addition, local road development and maintenance should be carried out based on a 10-year rehabilitation program. 6-C. INTRODUCE BUS LANES, CYCLING PATHS AND SIDEWALKS AS A STANDARD FOR ANY NEW ROAD The development of an extensive network of bus lanes and cycling paths will need to be mitigated, in some cases, by enhancing the road to accommodate the new cross section. For that matter, new road development and existing road rehabilitation will include standard facilities for public transport, cycling and pedestrians. 6-D. SET A 10-YEAR ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM While many roads in Almaty are in good condition, some need to be rehabilitated to provide safe, smooth, and fast service. Road rehabilitation also reduces the damage to all vehicles, hence reducing expenses to bus operators and owners of commercial and private vehicles. The city will set a 10 year rehabilitation plan for urban streets and identify financial resources for this plan. Sustainable transport is about squeezing more out of limited space. Re-allocation of road space to bus lanes, pedestrian facilities (side walk or pedestrian mall) and cyclist facilities (bicycle path) will move 4-10 times more people than cars, given the same 3.5 meter lane width. Capacity (passengers) per hour Sustainable transport is about squeezing more out of limited space. Reallocation of road space to bus (bus lane), pedestrian (side walk or pedestrian mall) and cyclist (bicycle path) will move 4-10 times more people than cars, given the same 3.5 meter lane width

40 40 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 6.7. CONNECTING THE SUBURBS TO THE CITY Almaty s rapid growth will transform the current metropolitan area of 2.5 million people (2013) to over 3.5 million in Transportation systems, in particular, need to be planned and operated beyond the border of the municipal area and provide quick and affordable access to commuters coming from nearby communities. Almaty has become a major regional hub and the largest commercial centre in central Asia, attracting significant numbers of passengers and commercial goods. This requires better integration between urban and intercity transportation networks. Almost 200,000 people enter Almaty every day, primarily from the suburbs. Most of them are using cars, as there is no comprehensive and attractive public transport connection and no option to park cars outside the city centre to use public transport for the remainder of the trip. As a result, this demand produces congestion both inside the city and at entrances. 7-A. PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICE TO AND FROM THE SUBURBS There are few mini-buses that serve the suburbs. We intend to introduce modern and attractive bus service, operating with standard or articulated buses, bringing passengers to the city centre quickly. Based on demand analysis, we intend to introduce this service in the following suburbs: Talgar, Alatay, Belbulak, Baiterek, Baiserke, Kapchagay, Askhar, Abay, KaminkaTau-samal(Kamenka), Chemolgan and Kaskelen. When needed suburban bus services will be provided with dedicated bus lanes at congested road sections. 7-B. PROVIDE P&R FACILITIES NEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINALS IN SUBURBS To operate the suburban bus service quickly and regularly, we need to operate it from a single terminal in each suburb. To bring passengers to this terminal, we will provide both a feeder system and P&R lots near the terminal so passengers can arrive by car. 7-C. BUILD A TRANSIT HUB Suburban public transport service will be, for the most part, based on standard or midi buses. Upon entering the city, passengers will switch to the Almaty MRT. For that purpose, the city will develop transit hubs where fast and easy transfers will take place. 7-D. PLAN THE FUTURE OF THE TRAIN SERVICE Akimat will consider future use of the two existing train stations, considering both passenger and freight needs. Akimat will ensure that high quality and easily accessible transit service will connect stations to major central destinations.

41 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 41 7-E. PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW AIRPORT WITH HIGH STANDARD PT SERVICE TO THE CITY CENTRE The current airport has limited air traffic and passenger volume capacity. The City will build a new airport that will meet the growing needs of the international and national volume of air traffic predicted and will facilitate the growth of the city. The new airport will be connected the city centre by convenient and fast public transport service, such as BRT lines PROMOTE LOW EMISSION CARS AND ZONES According to a 2011 UNDP-GEF report the transport sector is responsible for over 85% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Almaty. Therefore, in order to transform the city into a green city, we need to take significant actions in three main directions: SHIFT to green transport modes such as walking, cycling and public transport IMPROVE the quality of engines and fuel to be more environmentally friendly AVOID unnecessary high pollution emission trips within the city In order to fulfil official obligations to improve the environmental situation in Almaty and reduce GHG emissions, the following measures are proposed: 8-A. INTRODUCE A LOW EMISSION ZONE IN THE CITY CENTRE A LEZ is a geographically defined area which restricts access for specific polluting vehicles or only allows low emitting vehicles, with the aim of improving air quality. LEZs are becoming popular in many cities. There are already more than 100 LEZs in different countries worldwide. 8-B. PROMOTE THE USE OF ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES In addition to LEZs, the city intends to promote the use of zero emission vehicles (like electric vehicles) by giving these vehicles priority for on-street parking, reserving spaces for the use vehicles with charging options, or exempting these vehicles from parking fees. 8-C. USE CLEANER FUEL FOR BUSES AND PRIVATE VEHICLES The city will replace old buses with new and modern trolley buses, CNG buses or diesel buses, complying with EURO 5 standards or higher. In 10 years, all buses in Almaty will be low or zero emission buses. 8-D. INTRODUCE A SCRAPPING PLAN FOR OLD VEHICLES AND BUSES Akimat will gradually implement a scrapping plan that will provide incentives to owners of old polluting vehicles to replace them with newer less polluting vehicles. Special attention will be given to old trucks manufactured before 1990, which contribute significantly to air pollution.

42 42 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 7. MECHANISM OF REALIZATION OF THE STRATEGIES Akimat intends to reform the current organization to focus on sustainable transport development. The main purpose of this reform is to obtain full integration in the activities of all relevant stakeholders toward the implementation of the strategy. All of the measures set above will be optimally implemented once institutional, organizational, and regulatory improvements will be introduced. These include: Capacity building Procedural improvements Organizational development Regulatory reformation TO THIS END, WE IDENTIFIED 11 MAJOR ACTIONS THAT WILL BE TAKEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE: Action 1: Establish a Public Transport Holdings Company Public transport will be better planned and more professionally regulated upon the establishment of a public transport authority (or holdings company). Such body will be responsible for all aspects of PT service provision, including but not limited to: Planning public transport route schemes for LRT/BRT/Bus/Trolley and Tram Tender operation of PT lines to the private sector through public service contracts Supervise operations and enforce penalties if the operational expectations of the public service contracts are not met Serve as a focal body for system integration (ticketing and information) Assume responsibility for maintenance of PT facilities (such as bus stops and terminals) Operate and update all common integrated facilities like the integrated ticketing system and the integrated public information system Address public complaints Promote a targeted, coordinated and holistic approach to improve deficits in transit vehicle operator resources Akimat will claim responsibility for all PT lines that operate to and from the city and will ensure adequate service is provided to nearby suburbs. Action 2: Establish Transportation Planning Team Akimat will establish a professional transportation planning team that will be able to support strategic decision making. The team will cooperate with various departments in Akimat including those responsible for the economy, roads, PT, environment, law enforcement and architecture. The team will maintain and

43 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 43 Action 3: Establish Traffic Management Department update the newly developed travel demand model, will routinely execute transportation surveys, propose new transportation scenarios and alternatives, appraise their benefits, provide preliminary cost-benefit analysis to various projects, and complete revenue and ridership estimation for different transport options. The planning team will become the most professional body in Almaty and will transfer knowledge to universities as well as to other stakeholders in Akimat. Akimat will establish a traffic management department which will claim responsibility over all traffic activities in the city. The primarily role of this department will be to control traffic lights and manage daily car traffic. In addition, the department will be responsible for different engineering solutions such as oneway traffic roads, bus lanes, intersection layout changes, and the introduction of cycling lanes. Action 4: Establish Parking Department Akimat will establish a parking department which will be responsible for all parking activities in the city. Its prime goal will be to implement our parking strategy to introduce the paid parking scheme in the city, enforce it, prepare monitoring programs and guarantee that new parking space is created together with the implementation of new building plans that increase parking demand. The department will also deal with parking revenue collection for Akimat. Furthermore the Department will be responsible for communication with citizens regarding the application for permits and promotion of the general policy objectives. Action 5: Establish Cycling Round Table Panel /Council Akimat will form an advocacy panel composed of different officials and other stakeholders. The main objective of this panel will be to plan and promote cycling as transportation mode and coordinate ambitious cycling infrastructure plans within different entities. The group will monitor the progress of relevant departments in achieving cycling goals and will report periodically to the mayor. The round table will coordinate with NGOs, cycling activists, international experts, the private sector, public transport operators and the media. Action 6: Introduce Public Service Contract The city will define a clear and comprehensive mechanism for Akimat to work with public transport operators. Such a contract will define mutual obligations and rights of both sides, and ensure passengers are provided with a satisfactory level of service. In practice, all public transport service will be offered to operators for a period of 6-10 years. Contracts with obligations (Service Level Agreement, SLA) and rights (compensation, subsidy) of operators will clearly define an enforcement and penalty mechanism.

44 44 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy Other Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) such as for parking operations, and the electronic ticketing system will also be based on a public service Contract. Action 7: Ongoing Training and Engagement of International Expertise In order to fulfil our vision Akimat will define an annual training work plan that will involve all professionals and officials dealing with transportation matters from Akimat and from the private sector engaged by Akimat (such as bus drivers). The main objective is to develop a high level of local expertise in a wide range of transportation functions (such as planning, operation, design, procurement, legal, organizational, etc.). In order for this to be fulfilled, Akimat will seek ongoing assistance from international experts. Capacity building and knowledge transfer will be a strategic task involving all stakeholders. Action 8: Cost-Benefit Analysis Investments Akimat will define a clear mechanism for evaluating project feasibility that will meet international standards and will be accepted by the international committee. A standard Cost-Benefit Analysis will be completed for each large infrastructure project. This will enable the city to justify and prioritize projects, spend the budget more effectively, and attract financing agencies if needed. Action 9: Engage Private Sector in Project Financing In order to fulfil our vision, Akimat intends to invest a significant amount of money in the upcoming years to leverage the transit system from the Soviet era into a system meeting EU standards or better. This requires significant budget allocation which might not be always available within our local or national budget. Given the more transparent project evaluation processes mentioned above, Akimat will engage the private sector in large projects such as new highways, light rail or the installation of technology systems. This will enable us to invest simultaneously in multiple projects while ensuring that cash flow does not run dry and the project is financially stable. Action 10: Regulatory Change to Enable BOT Projects As Akimat might consider implementing some of its large projects with the private sector through a BOT (Build- Operate-Transfer) mechanism, we will need to make legal adjustments to support these types of projects. Such changes include the ability of the private sector to collect revenue and to issue penalties to violators. Action 11: Transparency in Planning, Investment Process and Public Participation in Decision Making The City will move towards a more transparent planning processes where documentation of planning alternatives and execution of municipality budgets will be available to residents. Access to all information will be available to the public online. In addition, the city will perform public hearing sessions early in the planning process to receive opinions from residents and refine plans if necessary.

45 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT STRATEGY 8.1 DEFINITION OF THREE COMPARABLE FUTURE SCENARIOS TO CHOOSE FROM The city s newly adopted sustainable transport policy, reflected by this document, will make significant changes in budget allocation, prioritization of investments and right of way redistribution. We call it the «Green Transport Scenario,» to distinguish it from the mix of investment and transportation solutions adopted to this point, which mainly favour car traffic at the expense of sustainable transportation modes. The existing path is therefore named «Business As Usual» (BAU). For analysis purposes, we also define a third scenario which is based only on existing projects, services and operations as they exist today without considering the future development of any transport system. While this scenario is not realistic, it does provide a good reference point for comparison of the two others. We name this scenario the «Do Nothing Scenario». Do Nothing BAU Sustainable Transport Road network Only approved projects Significant development Limited to bottle necks only Public Transport facilities Public Transport Service Same as today + Metro West (2 stations) Today+ Metro West + LRT-1 Current fleet CNG Current fleet CNG Major investments Significant increase in fleet & operation Cycling & Walking As of today As of today Major investments 8.2 MAJOR TRANSPORTATION INDICATORS OF THE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SCENARIO The result of the new sustainable transport strategy is that by 2023, Almaty will provide its residents with a higher quality of life. Almaty will be a connected city in which most residents will be able to walk a short distance to the nearest MRT station and travel quickly and safely to their destination along lanes dedicated to public transport, seamlessly using a single and affordable transit ticket. Parameter Today 2023 BAU 2023 Sustainable Transport Average car speed [km/hr], (morning peak) Public Transport average in-vehicle speed [km/hr] (morning peak) Emission of GHG from transport sector, M-tons CO 2 equivalent 2,650,000 4,990,000 3,420,000 Total time wasted in traffic, daily (car and PT passengers) 300,000 hours 700,000 hours 400,000 hours Percentage of people living 500 m' from MRT station 8% 18% 51% Percentage of cycling from total trips made Less than 0.5% 1.5% 6% Percentage of trips using sustainable modes (walking, cycling, PT) 42% 35% 55% Number of car trips and total length of car trips (daily) 1.13 M trips / M KM 1.85M trips / M KM 1.37M trips /14.1 M KM

46 46 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy Alternatively, residents and visitors will be able to cycle to their destination using their own bicycle and park it at their destination, or use one of the many shared bikes that will be located at bike share stations throughout the city. The city will be greener, with much cleaner air, and will contribute positively to the economic growth of Kazakhstan. The following table shows the expected quantitative impacts of the sustainable urban transport strategy (SUT) compared to the Business-as-Usualscenario. The table above shows that the proposed strategy will turn Almaty into a: ALMATY 8.3 GREEN TRANSPORT CITY Sustainable Modes By 2023, over 55% of all trips in the city will be completed using sustainable modes,such as MRT (over 22%), bus (16%), walking (12%) and cycling (5-6%). The number of trips by car will therefore drop by over half a million trips daily, from 1.75 million to 1.22 million. Our strategy will also reduce the number of kilometres travelled by car by over 6 million kilometres daily (this is equivalent to over 150 trips around our planet daily). 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0 13,3% 29,8% 11,5% 11,3% 25,0% 24,1% Today Do Nothing Business As Usual 16,9% 38,0% Green Transport PT NMT Non-Sustainable 8.4 DYNAMIC CITY The development of 8-10 MRT lines will enable the city to develop and transform into a dynamic metropolis with excellent accessibility for all people and all purposes. The MRT, accompanied with complementary bus and cycling services will play a major role in the economic development of the city and will assist in attracting national and international investments. In addition, the vitality of the city centre and the creation of a walkable and green-oriented city will improve quality of life for residents and tourists and add to the attractiveness of the city.

47 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy MOVING CITY Due to the provision of a reliable, attractive, accessible and affordable PT system, people will shift from driving cars and taking taxis to greener modes, thus congestion will be relieved significantly. It is predicted that travel time by car will be reduced from 40 minutes to 33 minutes; while AM peak car speed will increase from 15 km/h to over 18 km/h. Passengers on public transport modes will enjoy even higher speeds than car drivers. Overall, passengers will save approximately 160 million hours annually if our strategy is implemented AFFORDABLE CITY Increasing PT usage by over 50% will enable us to provide more frequent and cheaper PT service for all. System integration will enable all users to reach destinations with less than 50 cents, US, no matter where they go or when. For commuters, students and the elderly, PT will be even cheaper. In addition, people will enjoy cycling free of charge (or at minimal cost if using our cycling rental scheme). Most importantly, over 25% of our residents will give up driving their cars in the city centre. In other words: over 200,000 families will save considerable amounts of money because of the sustainable transport strategy ACCESSIBLE CITY By 2023, more than half of the residents of Almaty and over 60% of its employees will be living next to a MRT stop. People will be able to switch between modes quickly and reach different parts of the city faster than ever before without the need to drive a car CLEAN CITY Our strategy will stop the rapid increase in pollution level within the city and for some pollutants like PM and NOX, we forecast a reduction compared to 2013 levels. Green House Gas Emission, Аlmaty, mln. tonnes of СО 2 5 4,5 Our strategy will cap the level of GHGs within 5 years and reverse trends from an over 5% growth currently, to a reduction of -1% from 2020 onwards. 4 3,5 3 2, Green Transport Business as Usual Our strategy will reduce the number of kilometres driven by private car by almost 1.5 billion annually which is equivalent to over 10 times the distance to the sun. This will enable us to free up a large amount of asphalt and create new parks, cycling paths, pedestrian malls, playgrounds and more green-oriented spaces for the benefit of our residents and for the future of our planet.

48 48 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 9. ACTION PLAN ( ) The implementation of the Sustainable Urban Transport strategy involves a variety of physical and institutional measures. The following section describes the action plan that Akimat will implement in the next 10 years ( ). Project Description Responsible agency Planning / Construction year Operational year Estimated budget [M KZT] 6 Metro extension West-1 two stations: Moskva & Sairan Road Department ,000 Metro extension West-2 to Auezov street in Kalkaman 2014/ ,000 Metro extension north through Almaty 1 Almaty 2 LRT-1 Alatau region Depot Tole Be JTCU / , / ,000 Department / ,000 45,000 LRT-2 Orbita Green Bazar / ,000 BRT 1 phase 1 Orbita Timiriazova Bikonyr Zhetysuiskaya Passenger 2014 / ,000 BRT 1 phase 2 Aqua park Timiriazova Bikonar Almaty / ,000 BRT 2 Kamenka Gogol Green Bazar 2016 / ,000 Mass rapid transit (annex a) BRT 3 Dostyk Ainabulak--Bazar / ,000 BRT 4 Zhuldyz Furmanov Dostyk 2014/ ,000 BRT 5 Airport raiymbek West bus station 3 Multi-Modal public transport Hubs (with MRT integration) 2. east end (on road to Talgar) / , West end (on road to Kackalen) 2014/ , km of urban bus lanes (some within the MRT corridors) Road Department / ,0008 Public transport facilities 6 Rough Estimation only. Feasibility study will be completed on each project to provide accurate cost estimation. Operation & Maintenance Cost (O&M) excluded

49 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy North end: on A-3 highway Department + PT Passenger From Talgar, Kackalen, Kamenka and other 10 suburbs Passenger department + PT Holding Phased, Upon opening MRT system holding 2014/ ,000 Bus stops renewal with static information 1,500 for campaign (fleet account separately) Operational subsidy might be needed renew old bus stops in the city (~1,000 stops) 2014/ ,500 Bus fleet & PT ITS Public transport service e-ticketing & integrated fare structure real time information at stops new CNG / Clean Diesel buses new articulated buses new electric bus taxi stands Purchase of on board (validators, terminals) and off-board(tvm, system) equipment Multi-annual deployment plan to cover all stop > 500 passengers daily Passenger Department + PT holding 2013/ , / ,000 Purchase additional 1300 buses in next 10 years / Purchase 500 in next 10 years (out of which 300 for BRT) Purchase 500 Trolley Bus or electric bus in next 10 years Allocate and construct 182 taxi parking space in the city / ,000-40,000 15,000-20, / , / ,000 taxi service regulate service, add new CNG taxi (200 in 2014) separated cycling lane (annex B) 140 km of cycling lanes Bike parks 500 Bike parks across the city Cycling rental scheme 100 stations, 1,500 bicycles Pedestrian mall (annex B) Arbat extension toward Green Bazar (Pushkin Street). Panfilov (Makataev to Aiteke Bi) Road Department + Architecture Road Department economic department Road Department , , / ,000 Cycling and walking 7 Excluding land acquisition 8 Excluding bus lanes constructed for MRT system 9 cost excludes MRT equipment

50 50 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy Cycling campaign At school, workplace and universities side walk & zebra crossing pedestrian bridge over arterials Multi-annual plan for sidewalk expansion and zebra crossing over 10 bridges over the ring road and over raiymbek with elevators Road Department Cycling round table Road Department , ,500 Parking Cycling and walking Park & ride facilities (annex c) Paid parking pilot in city center (phase 1) Paid parking in city center (Zones) construct 6-7 park & ride lots on street Pilot project in selected streets in city center Deployment of technology system in zone 1 (to be defined) Parking permits Issue parking permits for residents Parking management Parking enforcement establish parking management system to monitor and display occupancy of parking lot enforce non-paying vehicles and those who park illegally Provide buses with partial priority at intersections Priority at intersection 13 along bus lanes. priority at intersection one way street (annex D) left turns roundabout Provide buses with partial priority at intersections along bus lanes. At AblaiKhan, Seyfullina, Karasay-Batyr & Boegenbay-batyr and at Zhambul and Kabanbay-batyr Introduce left turns in major intersections (~20 of them) replace intersection in local street to roundabout in suitable places Passenger department Road Department Parking department Parking department Parking department Parking department Passenger department Passenger department Passenger department + Traffic Police road Department + Architecture 2014/ , , , , / , / , / Traffic Management smart city traffic light control center Connect all traffic light into 1 central traffic management and control center 10 Cost of construction only. System generates significant revenue for the city 11 Cost of construction only. System generates significant revenue for the city 12 Along Bus lanes, In addition to those planned for the MRT scheme 13 Excluding at bus lanes constructed for MRT system 14 Excluding land acquisition. Assuming two way tunnels and intersection 15 To be established under PT holding Traffic management department 2015/ ,000

51 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 51 BaKaD highway Arterial roads Construction of several connectors between BAKAD to city. Ministry of transport road Dept / , / ,000 Toli-Be extension Connect Tole-Be to Al Farabi ring road road Dept. 2013/ , Widening local streets Add capacity in specific streets in center road Dept. rehabilitation of roads Prepare 10 years rehabilitation plan for existing road network. Secure budget up front Talgar road widening transform Almaty-Talgar into arterial road road Dept regional (oblast) (Annually O&M) 2015/ ,000 Suburban & Intercity Road Network Development talgar-almaty Brt/ lrt PT holding 2015/ (BrT) 7,500 Provide reliable service from Talgar / Kackalen Kackaeln-almaty Brt/ lrt / Kapchagay to Almaty along separate right of PT holding 2015/ (BrT) 6,000 way Kapchagay-almaty Brt PT holding 2017/ ,000 train station Consider re-location of Almaty 1/2 transit hub at suburbs airport development low-emission Zone Zero emission vehicle scrapping plan improve quality of Benzene Development of transit simple hub in suburbs (primary Talgar, Kackalen) to switch to buses (including P&r) Further investment in airport to meet 2025 demand eliminate polluting vehicles from city center (monitoring station, enforcement Promote (subsidy, tax reduction) zero emission vehicles Initiate scraping plan to get off road old polluting vehicles National rail Company regional (oblast) Ministry of transport environmental department 2014/ /2018 2, / , / , ? ? 2017? Low Emission introduce congestion pricing Minimize incoming traffic and encourage commuters to shift to sustainable modes while reducing environmental impact PT holding 2015/?? 2,000 Total Investment 871,865 M KZT (5.8 B $) 16 Excluding land acquisition. Assuming two way tunnels and intersection 17 Excluding land acquisition

52 52 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy SOFT MEASURE ACTION PLAN action plan Planning and m o d e l i n g Department traffic management department p a r k i n g organization public contract traffic assessment service impact description establish planning and modeling in-house team to appraise benefit of different project and assist decision makers in project evaluation establish traffic management department within PT holding that will be in charge of traffic flow, signals and traffic lights and other traffic related aspects establish parking department who will plan, manage, legalize, develop, regulate and enforce parking issues in the city PSC will become a standard and will define mutual obligations and rights of operators and regulator (the city) Standardize a mechanism to appraise the traffic impact of new large scale development project and propose mitigation to negative impacts responsible agency operational year P.T holding 2014 P.T holding 2015 P.T holding 2014 P.T holding From 2014 Planning & Modeling 2015

53 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (Pilot projects): The implementation of the Sustainable transport strategy involves a variety of physical and institutional measures. The following section describes the action plan that Akimat will implement in the next 10 years ( ). Institutional Involved Agency Opening year Actions Pilot BRT-1 Separated Bus lane on Abaiavn PT Hours of operation Talgar Almaty Kackalen Almaty bus service School bus service Purchase new fleet (CNG, Trolley, Euro 6) passenger information system Pedestrian Zebra crossing 3 cycling path at Kaznu-Abai, Esentai-Saptaeva, Al-Farabi, and 500 bike parks 1. Planning (2014) 2. Detailed design (2013-4) 3. Construction of Infrastructure (2014-5) 4. ITS & Fleet (2014) 1. Planning (2014) 2. Construction of Infrastructure (2014) 3. Parking re-location (2014) 4. Bus stop & ITS (2014) 1. Planning (2014) 2. More Driver (2014) Operational planning (2014) 2. Bus purchasing (2014) Identification of candidate school (2014) 2. Public participation & planning (2014) 3. Fleet purchasing (2015) 1. Technical specification (2013) 2. Tender (2014) 3. Depot design & build (2014) 1. Preliminary planning and technology spec (2014) 2. Installation of Electricity and communication ( ) 3. ITS tender (2014) 4.Installation of ITS (2015) 1. Identify location (2014) 2. Detailed design and implementation (2014) 1. Detailed design (2013) 2. Construction of Infrastructure (2014) 1. Planning and selection of location (2013) 2. Installation (2014) PT Holding T.M Dept. PT holding Architecture T.M Dept. Parking department 2014 PT holding Procurement of system PT Holding District PT holding & Education department PT holding AET PT Holding 2014 Road Dept Road dept. Architecture/ Passenger dept Public Service Contract Articulated bus tender Procurement of ITS Procurement of ITS Design tender of bus stop Public Service contract Public Service contract 2014: Second hand buses 2014: procurement of new buses O p e r a t i o n concession Procurement of new bus 2014

54 54 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy Cycling scheme rental Paid Parking pilot project in selected streets Dedicated turn left 1. Design and tender documents (2013) 2. Procurement and selection of supplier (2014) 3. Construction and commissioning (2014-5) 1. System architecture and (2013) and detailed deployment plan 2. tender documents preparation (2014) 3. Selection of supplier, installation (2015) 1. Identify intersection and road map (2013) 2. Construction of Infrastructure (2014) 2015 Economic Dept Parking Dept Passenger department & Police Round about pilot 2015 Road Dept. New Bus stop 1. Inventory and planning (2014) 2. Tender for supplier (2014) 3. Installation (2015 ) Passenger department Design-Build- Operate-Transfer (DBOT) R e g u l a t o r y change to enable enforcement and revenue collection by private sector

55 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy CLOSING REMARKS The future of our city is bright. The great enthusiasm of our people to contribute to the city will inevitably transform Almaty into a better place to live. The dynamics of our nation and the skills of our great people will ensure that the city keeps on developing and transforming into a leading international metropolitan. Our unique setting and cultural diversity will ensure tourism will continue on growing at rapid pace. Our challenges are significant and solutions can be risky, but they can be mitigated if we join forces and embrace a new path for our city. The goals and objectives of our plan are set high, but they will be achieved with hard work. One of the key principles of our ambitious plan is integration. We must ensure our plan is coherent and different stakeholders are communicating with each other. One cannot expect passengers use buses if service is not reliable and synchronized. We cannot expect people to relinquish use of their car, if a better solution is not provided to them. INTEGRATION WILL BE ACHIEVED BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING SEGMENTS: 1. Between urban development and transport system development: Akimat will ensure urban development and transportation are synchronized and expanded based on mutual principles and a shared strategy. 2. Between modes of transport: Our plan will make sure passengers can enjoy alternative modes of transport to choose from, and transfer from one mode to another easily. 3. Between departments in Akimat: All relevant departments within Akimat will work closely to make sure the transportation system is implemented according to our plan. Special attention will be given to ensure that all departments work in concert. 4. Within the same mode of transport: Public transport will act as a synchronized system with smooth interfaces between lines. Car traffic will also be managed in a synchronized manner. 5. Between vehicles and pedestrians: Akimat is committed to providing mobility to people, rather than vehicles. Therefore people will enjoy engineering and technological solutions that will provide improved levels of service and accessibility. 6. Integration with our surroundings: Almaty will keep its strategic position as the central regional city and will provide high-class mobility integration to commuters, long distance national and international travellers and goods. 7. Integration with our environment: Our plan will ensure that we continue to protect our environment and live side by side in our wonderful natural surroundings. Our vision fully encapsulates our sustainable urban transport plan: In 2023, the citizens of Almaty will enjoy a transport system that is integrated, sustainable and safe, with high-quality services for the entire population. The transport system will contribute to the city s economic development while limiting its environmental footprint.

56 пр. Дулати Навои Т. Озала Розыбакиева пр. Достык 56 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy A. MASS RAPID TRANSIT NETWORK 2023 Алматы Объединенная транспортная система Integrated Rapid Transit Concept Концепция Капчагай Талдыкорган Байсерке A3 A350 Астана CAST City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Северное кольцо Ипподром Жансугурова пр. Сейфуллина Роща Баума Турксибский р-н Алматы-1 пр. Суюнбая Бекмаханова Хмельницкого Майлина Шемякина Лавренева Международный Аэропорт Алматы Кулжинский тракт A351 Байтерек Китай Западный автовокзал A2 Шымкент Бишкек Абая Новые кварталы Базар пр. Райымбека Ауэзова депо Ауэзовский р-н Алатауский р-н Саина Саина Момышулы Аквапарк депо Сайран Сайран Москва ADK Орбита Стад. Базар ADM Алмалинский р-н Алатау Бокейханова Жетысуский р-н пр. Рыскулова пр. Рыскулова Жубанова Шаляпина Толе Би пр. Абая пр. Райымбека Утеген Батыра Жандосова Сулейманова Сатпаева Торайгырова Утепова Ауэзова Глобус Муканова Цирк Театр Драмы Стад. Байтурсынулы Байконур Бостандыкский р-н КазНУ пр. Гагарина Жарокова Толе Би Карасай Батыра Тимирязева Ботанический Сад Гоголя пр. Аль-Фараби пр. Сейфуллина Алматы-2 Райымбек Желтоксан Жибек Жолы Алмалы Театр оперы и балета Шевченко пр. Абая Акимат пл. Республики Хай-Тек Фурманова Панфилова Абай Жолдасбекова Кажымукана Жангельдина Макатаева Зеленый Базар Парк Панфиловцев Медеуский р-н гост. Казахстан пр. Рыскулова Татибекова ПКиО Зоопарк Халиуллина Восточная объездная дорога Коктобе R21 Восточный автовокзал Талгарский тракт Талгар Каскелен A4 Каменка Парк Первого Президента Казахфильм пр. Достык Горная Метро: действующая/ строящаяся линия проектируемые линии Легкий рельсовый транспорт BRT-1 LRT-1 депо BRT-4 BRT-2 Райымбек LRT-2 Скоростной автобусный транспорт (Метробус) BRT-3 Троллейбусные BRT маршруты BRT-5 Пригородные BRT/LRT маршруты Каскелен/Талгар Капчагай Железнодорожная линия Станции пересадок Перехватывающая парковка Аэропорт Медеу Ж/д вокзал Автовокзал Больница P22 Большое Алматимское Торговый центр Университет ROM Transportation & Engineering Ltd. 97 Jaffa st., Jerusalem, Israel concept 09/2013 This map presents concept of Mass Rapid Transit network that was developed in consolations with stakeholders to support sustainable city growth and shift toward fast and reliable public transport. 8 MRT corridors are integrated in one system and are projected to transport 1M passengers upon completion. Each of the proposed lines will be tested independently through a dedicated feasibility study.

57 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 57 B. CYCLING AND WALKING NETWORK The proposed network was prepared in joint collaboration between relevant departments in Akimat, NGO s and consultants. The map presents the most suitable corridors where NMT facilities should be introduced. Overall Almaty will enjoy over 100 KM of cycling path that will provide direct, separated and safe infrastructure for cyclists.

58 58 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy C. BUS LANES, TRANSIT HUBS AND PARK & RIDE FACILITIES This map presents proposed location of dedicated bus lane that will be developed throughout the city. Over 160 KM of dedicated and segregated bus lanes will be established along major PT corridors to prioritize buses and BRT and provide high speed alternative.

59 City of Almaty Sustainable Transport Strategy 59 D. ROAD NETWORK This map presents conceptual road hierarchal network where Highways (blue) and arterial roads (pink) are at the top of the of the pyramid offering high capacity (2,300+ and 1,500+ vehicles per lane per hour respectively) and maximum mobility with minimal traffic interference (no parking, minimum entrances, pedestrian crossing, etc). in addition, we propose to transform some of the city center main road into 1 way roads to improve traffic flow and speed.