iNFORMATiONS 2 Share and Care: April 2010

Just gr8! Transportation system…

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." ~~~ Albert einstein

Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 9:44 AM

Dear All,

Watch below video.......Ahmedabad Successful BRTS Project.

http://deshgujarat.com/2010/02/18/a-promotional-film-on-ahmedabads-janmarg-brtsvideo/

Ahmedabad, India Wins 2010 Sustainable Transport Award

Past winners include:
· 2005 – Bogota, Colombia
Former Mayor Enrique Penalosa, Bogota, Colombia for the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system, bicycle integration, and public space reclamation.

· 2006 – Seoul, Korea
Mayor Myung-Bak Lee, Seoul, Korea for the revitalization of the Cheongyecheon River and the implementation of its bus rapid transit system.

· 2007 – Guayquil, Ecuador
Mayor Jaime Nebot, Guayquil, Ecuador for revitalizing the downtown, creating dynamic public spaces, and instituting a new public transit system.

· 2008 – Paris, France & London, United Kingdom
Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, Paris, France for implementing a range of innovative mobility solutions with vision, commitment and vigor.
Mayor Ken Livingston, London, United Kingdom for expanding London's congestion charge program and developing other low emissions programs that dramatically impacted air quality.

· 2009 – New York, United States Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York, United tates,
for making bold moves to achieve the ambitious goals of PlaNYC 2030.

· 2010 – Ahmedabad Janmarg BRTS
The official award ceremony was held on, January 12, 2010, from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Sustainable Transport Award was given to Ahmedabad City for their Janmarg project today at the TRB award ceremony.
Mr. I.P. Gautam Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad and Mr. Hasit Vora, Chairman Standing Committee AMC received the award on behalf of the city of Ahmedabad from Mr. Enrique Penalosa, ITDP Board President and former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia.
The Indian Delegation lead by Mr. Ramachandran, Secretary, Urban Development, Govt of India & Minister for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of India at Washington DC were present at the ceremony.

Press Release
Ahmedabad, India Wins 2010 Sustainable Transport Award
City's Janmarg Bus Rapid Transit System Reduces Carbon Emissions, Dramatically
Improves Residents Access, Cities in Developing World Dominate Award
The developing world is leapfrogging developed countries when it comes to urban transport.

The city of Ahmedabad, India, today has been announced as winner of the 2010 Sustainable Transport Award for the successful implementation of Janmarg, India's first full bus rapid transit (BRT) system. For the first time the award has been given to any city from South Asia/ India
"This year's Sustainable Transport Award nominees demonstrate the relevance of the developing world in the fight against climate change while improving citizen's quality of life and enhancing their international competitiveness," said Walter Hook, Executive Director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. "Cities have the power to significantly reduce carbon emissions by actively seeking ways to improve transport."

Award Criteria :
Each year, the Sustainable Transport Award is given to a city or major jurisdiction that has a profound impact on lessening the impact of climate change and enhances the sustainability and livability of its community or region through innovative transportation strategies that increase mobility for all, while reducing transportation greenhouse and air pollution emissions, and improving safety and access for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The Award recognizes the city or major jurisdiction that has made most significant progress during the year in:

· improving public transportation,
· improving non-motorized travel and public space,
· implementing traffic demand management programs to reduce private car use;
· reducing urban sprawl by linking transportation to development, and/ or
· reducing transport related air pollution.

Ahmedabad Janmarg BRTS : winner of the 2010 Sustainable Transport Award
Ahmedabad's Janmarg BRT system is a sustainable model for the future of transportation in India, where a quarter of the world's population lives. "BRT systems can positively impact air quality if car and motorbike drivers start taking trips by bus," said Sophie Punte, Executive Director of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-ASIA). "This is particularly important in Asian cities, where air pollution levels are often far above guidelines of the World Health Organization." City residents have embraced their new BRT system; 35,000 daily passengers use Janmarg to commute to work, to school and elsewhere. In just a few months of operation, Janmarg has transformed the delivery of transit in South Asia. Janmarg uses innovative central median stations pulled away from the junctions. Bus stations feature passive solar design, an inexpensive way to keep stations naturally cool. The city is making continued efforts to be a leader in sustainable transport, including incorporating high-quality pedestrian facilities in some corridors, as well as bicycle lanes. Ahmedabad has initiated car-free days and recently announced more.
Selection Committee :
Chosen by a selection committee that includes the most respected experts and organizations working internationally on sustainable transportation, this year's nominated cities have successfully addressed a diverse range of urban transport challenges. The Sustainable Transport Award selection committee includes the most respected experts from organizations working internationally on sustainable transportation. The committee members include:

· Walter Hook, Executive Director, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy ITDP
· Kathryn Phillips, Transportation Policy Expert, Environmental Defense Fund
· Ralph Gakenheimer, Chair, Transportation Research Board Committee on Transportation in Developing Countries
· Sophie Punte, Executive Director, Clean Air Initiative for Asia Center
· Sergio Sanchez, Clean Air Institute, Clean Air Initiative for Latin American Cities.
· Dario Hidalgo, Senior Transport Engineer, EMBARQ, The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport
· Manfred Breithaupt, Senior Transport Advisor, GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit)
· Heather Allen, Senior Manager, Sustainable Development, International Association of Public Transport (UITP)
· Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty, Environmental Expert, United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
The Sustainable Transport Award is given each year during the annual Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting in Washington, D.C.

Other Nominees:
For the first time in the six-year history of the Sustainable Transport Award, all of the
nominees are cities in developing nations.
The four honorable mentions go to -
· Cali, Colombia, for transforming citywide BRT service with MIO;
· Curitiba, Brazil, for opening a new BRT line and city park on a former federal highway;
· Guadalajara, Mexico, for completing a full BRT system in less than two years and at an
affordable cost; and
· Johannesburg, South Africa, for creating Rea Vaya, Africa's first BRT and the first public
transit system that connects Soweto to the downtown district.
The cities that received honorable mentions were all recognized for creating new BRT systems that reduce
carbon emissions and create an optimal environment for pedestrians and cyclists.