Innovative Green Smart Urban Mobility for Bishkek, Nur-Sultan, and Tbilisi

Project Summary:

Among the most pressing issues hindering socio-economic development of Bishkek and Nur-Sultan are traffic congestion, air pollution and associated negative consequences. Bishkek’s residents, for example, spend an average of 30% more time commuting than the national average owing to chronic traffic congestion issues. The average rush hour in Nur Sultan extends from 20-30 minutes to 2 hours when children return to school, highlighting the city’s growing need for capacity and public transport as the population and private vehicle registrations continue to swell.  In Bishkek and Nur-Sultan, 75% and 55% of local air pollution is generated by the transport sector, respectively. This frequently results in a toxic smog with cold polluted air trapped below a layer of warm air (inversion) owing to the mountainous terrain around Bishkek. Local particulate emissions are frequently above safe levels in Bishkek and Nur-Sultan. The grant aims to provide support to the identification and implementation of smart and sustainable digital solutions to address transport-related emissions and improve urban mobility in Bishkek and Nu-Sultan. The grant activities complement the Innovative Solutions for Urban Mobility in Central Asia project.  

List of Activities:

Component 1: Public Transport Financial Resilience

• Activity 1.1: Develop a sustainable tariff and budgeting system for public transport. 
• Activity 1.2: Develop financial resilience plans. 

Component 2: Green Smart Mobility Solutions

• Activity 2.1: Conduct smart solutions viability analysis. 
• Activity 2.2: Develop smart solutions road map. 
• Activity 2.3: Develop smart city pilot project. 

Component 3: Improving Institutional Coordination

• Activity 3.1: Support the development of cooperative structures with the potential to be institutionalized beyond the life of activity. 

Component 4: Knowledge and Dissemination

• Activity 4.1: Organize knowledge exchange and study tour to Seoul for project participants. 

Outcomes:

Output 1 

• Sustainable Tariff and Budgeting Reports
• Financial resilience plans

Output 2

• 2 technical notes detailing project selection methodology
• 2 road maps detailing smart city project pipelines
• Definition of 2 pilot projects and (ii) 2 presentation decks

Output 3

• Slide deck mapping the institutional coordination mechanisms to be piloted under the activity

Output 4

• Press release and presentation of outputs at international smart city events

Outcomes

• Improved sustainability and resilience of public transport systems in BK and NS.
• Governments of BK and NS ready to prepare designs for identified smart city projects (designed to support improved efficiency and competitiveness) for future implementation.
• Improved institutional coordination between the local government bodies.
• Enhanced awareness of the activity and Korea's contribution to activity outcomes within the World Bank, and among local governments / stakeholders in BK and NS. Enhanced capacity for future smart city projects in BK and NS

Collaboration with K-Partners and Others:

• Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG)
• Seoul Urban Solutions Agency (SUSA)
• IFC