Greening Urban Growth in Metropolitan Buenos Aires

Project Summary:

The objective of this grant is to support the Argentine Government to implement policies and investments to improve regional disparities and promote integrated infrastructure and transport planning. Argentina is a country of cities, with 90% of its population living in urban areas.  However, the country has yet to experience the benefits of urbanization. Urban sprawl and the large volume of informal settlements means that many citizens are unable to move efficiently and access economic opportunities. This KGGTF funded program will support the development of preparatory and structuring studies of key infrastructure components to upgrade and redevelop the Regional Express Passenger Railway Network (RER) for the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires.  This comprehensive strategy will set the framework to redevelop the transportation infrastructure by intensifying and improving the connectivity of the entire network.  In particular, the plan will include the building of new tunnels, stations, overpasses, electrification of key lines, new rolling stock and multimodal transfer facilities.  Key elements of the strategy will be substantial GHG emission reductions and improved access to transportation and jobs for 40% of urban residents.  

This program will additionally examine potential solutions to triple the current participation of rail cargo by assessing alternatives such as dry ports connected by road and rail.  Argentina is committed to replicating successful projects from Buenos Aires to other cities across the country.  Because of Seoul’s expertise in bus-based public transport and non-motoroized infrastructure, the Government of Argentina is further interested in support for the creation of preparatory studies for scaling up bicycle paths, pedestrian corridors and establishing an additional 20 Metrobus corridors.   It is expected that successful projects will be replicated throughout other cities in Argentina and across Latin America. 

This grant is linked to Lending ($200,000,000)

List of Activities:

1. Green Growth Planning for the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area - Analytical work contributed to the operationalization of GG in sectoral and integrated plans in AMBA
2. Piloting Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in AMBA - Pilot project concept agreed with government
3. Public Transit & Urban Freight Solutions - Preparatory and/or structuring studies informed government decision to promote pilot project to mainstream GG in Public Transit and/or Urban Freight

Outcomes:

Output 1:

• Study of land-use dynamics in AMBA 
• Report identifying potential areas for TOD 
• Workshops/meetings for validation of results with stakeholders

Output 2:

• Applicable policies and norms for the development of TOD in AMBA reviewed
• Development of a roadmap for TOD pilot implementation

Output 3:

• Development of preparatory and/or structuring studies for transport pilot project 

Outcomes:

• The proposed grant is expected to promote smarter and greener urban planning in AMBA, enhancing the governments’ capacity to revert the patterns of unplanned urban growth and develop targeted urban development operations that will improve the quality of life for its residents. The TOD piloting will promote compact and mixed-used development as well as the use of public and non-motorized transportation in the selected area, and will also create local capacity to promote integrated land use and transport planning, which in the long term will result in higher efficiency of public investments. In addition, the piloting of urban financing instruments available in the legislation will result in an increase in the city’s ability to raise own-source revenues (through the use of land value capture instruments).The Public Transit & Urban Freight Solutions will help improve the region's transportation system, prioritizing investment in mass transit and generating a modal shift towards a more efficient and less energy intensive use of energy. 
• The integrated transport land use plan will take into consideration land use, housing policies, infrastructure expansion plans and critical environmental issues promoting greater resiliency. The proposal introduces “smart growth” principles, which alleviate economic pressure on the rapidly growing outer suburbs following an unstainable sprawling pattern. The proposal is an opportunity to improve a low-income areas and permit the permanence of the original inhabitants in the new TOD project. The Public Transit & Urban Freight Solution will also strengthen the multimodality of the transport network, increasing the transport system redundancy and thus generating greater resilience.  
• The AMBA generates almost half of the country’s GDP, however, it faces the challenge of transforming its economy toward higher value-added products and services; a challenge exacerbated by the absence of a mechanism for metropolitan coordination. This proposed program presents a unique opportunity to develop integrated planning tools for urban development, with the potential of improving sustainability and fostering economic growth of AMBA. The redevelopment of the TOD selected area will ultimately result in substantial synergies among different stakeholders, promoting brownfield economic development and leveraging private funds. 

Collaboration with K-Partners and Others:

• Korean Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) on issues of efficient land use and territorial development
• Korea Transport Institute (KOTI)
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT): Korea’s Land Policy Bureau