Bus Rapid Transit implementation in Beijing: An evaluation of performance and impacts

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are undergoing rapid development in many countries due to the unique characteristics of this form of mass transit. In China, BRT schemes are being adopted as a key strategy for relieving traffic problems. As a case-study, this paper examines the performance and impacts of BRT in Beijing, the first full-featured BRT system in China. It considers in turn the role of ITS technology in influencing the operational efficiency, technical performance and cost issues associated with BRT. Particular attention is given to the consequent impacts of BRT on travel behaviour change, traffic environment and property development. While some challenges remain, the early performance of BRT suggests that it is one of the key measures for promoting sustainable mobility.     

Impact of Transmilenio on density,land use,and land value in Bogotá

While urban sprawl has been the general growth pattern in most developing cities worldwide, the city of Bogotá has undergone a process of densification in specific areas in the past decade. Using a differences-in-differences methodology, we have shown that the bus rapid transit (BRT) network, Transmilenio, built in this period is one of the variables that account for this higher density. Areas served by Transmilenio, especially those in the periphery that have been provided with feeder bus routes, have a higher growth than zones without access to this system. Using a similar methodology for assessing the growth of newly built areas, we have not found a clear relation between the BRT and recent evolution of residential, commercial, or work areas. However, recent scientific literature confirms an impact of the BRT on land value.     

我国经济发展阶段性特征及对沿海港口影响的分析

在系统整理改革开放30多年来我国经济、港口发展数据的基础上,将我国经济历程划分为6个发展阶段,探讨不同阶段经济发展特征及对沿海港口的影响。展望未来20年我国经济发展趋势,预测港口吞吐量发展水平,提出2025年左右港口吞吐量发展将出现拐点,并对沿海港口发展与建设提出意见与建议。     

The impacts of maritime piracy on global economic development: the case of Somalia

This paper investigates the impacts of maritime piracy on global economic development. Calibrated with data between 2003 and 2008, we model shipping demands and competition in the Far East-Europe container liner shipping service and investigate the economic welfare loss effects due to reduced volumes of trade and shipping, as well as efficiency loss due to geographical re-routing of shipping networks which would be otherwise uneconomical. The substantial economic loss simulated from our model indicates that, even from purely the perspective of economic interests, more efforts from the international community should be dedicated to tackle maritime piracy.     

The impact of compliance measures on the operation of a bus system: The case of Transantiago

In a regulated bus system operated by private companies, pecuniary incentives can be of primary importance to ensure the quality of the operation and the level of service, especially when there are only a few companies and basically no competition among them. The case of Transantiago, in the capital city of Chile, provides a good example of this. The very ambitious Transantiago project, implemented in 2007 in Santiago, integrated the bus and the subway systems, changing the route structure of the bus services, introducing a common and integrated fare system and electronic payment device, and tendering the operation of approximately 4,600 buses (which by the launch of the system in February 2007 had increased to 5600) to 10 private companies replacing some 4000 small operators which owned 8000 buses. In the beginning, the system faced huge difficulties. Operators' revenue formula basically consisted of a fixed payment, which changed slightly with the actual patronage. This quickly turned out to be a problem, and as technological support became available (several months after the launch), compliance measures were implemented, directly affecting the operators' revenue. The first measure considered the seat/standing places per hour of the buses in operation, for each company, and compared it to the theoretical figure. As a result, buses operating during peak hours increased from 4600 to 5600 in just two months. Subsequent indexes included service frequency and regularity, as well as effective bus-km, aggregated by company first and later by service. This paper shows how the successive implementation of these performance indexes had an impact on the operation of Transantiago in the first years, discusses the difficulties faced to implement them and highlights the importance of technological support to make possible the application of adequate compliance measures.     

目前国内中小型锚机现状及发展趋势

本文对目前国内中小型锚机的现状、各类锚机的特点，存在的问题及发展的趋势作了研究和探讨。     

The funding of hierarchical railway development in China

Transport networks are hierarchal in essence. In this paper, we explore the relationship between the financing structure and the hierarchal evolution of railway network development, using the case of China. Although privatization and corporatization in transport provision have been trends in some parts of the world, the national government is still the main body responsible for railway development in many countries. Among these countries, China and India are the only two that include the Ministry of Railways (MOR). In India, the entire country's railways are clearly defined as public services provided and managed by the MOR. In China, railways have been corporatized; yet, the MOR and the National Railway Corporation are still widely regarded as a single body that has monopolistic power over almost all railway systems at the national and regional levels in both infrastructure development and operation.     

平陆运河建设对西南部地区货运出海格局的影响

平陆运河对外直接沟通北部湾港,对内直接连通珠江水系高等级航道,是一条通江达海的水运新通道,其建设将对西南部地区货运出海格局产生深远影响。全面分析西南部地区现状货运出海通道总体格局,结合平陆运河—北部湾港江海联运通道与东南向、东向出海通道及南向通道现有路径综合运输成本比较,提出平陆运河建设的影响将主要集中在广西、云南、贵州3省区,辐射影响川渝地区。平陆运河的建设将优化西南部地区出海货运方式,改变出海货运流向,提高西南部地区南向通道出海货运量比重,提升环北部湾港口群综合竞争力,为西南部地区提前围绕平陆运河建设完善物流体系提供决策参考。     

促进我国海员事业发展的相关建议

文中分析了我国海员面临的职业风险,指出了目前中国海员的社会现状,提出了提升海员社会地位和福利待遇的五点建议。     

21世纪中国沿海港口发展战略研究

面临21世纪的发展机遇和挑战，中国沿海港口必须做出应对抉择。介绍了21世纪中国沿海港口的战略定位、战略总目标和三阶段的发展目标，并提出了21世纪初期沿海港口发展的六大战略。     

The strategic role of ports in regional development: conceptualising the experience from Australia

Regional ports, as infrastructure in regions, influence transport and regional development policies and planning. The interaction and involvement of regional ports with their stakeholders in the region are pivotal. The conundrum on what constitutes a regional port and thus its region has further complicated this limited researched area. In the extant literature, port and region relationship mainly centres on major metropolitan ports, and pays little heed to regional ports. In this context, this study investigates on how the Australian regional ports can be better involved in regional development. The study adopts a qualitative methodology to explore the Australian regional port stakeholders’ perceptions on port’s role in regional development through 38 semi-structured telephone interviews. Thematic analysis of data assisted by a mixture of NVivo software and manual techniques proposes a conceptual model that may assist policy-making. The key findings suggest that symbiotic growths of ports and concerned regions accelerate regional development. To contribute to regional development, the Australian regional ports can be proactive in building collaboration with regional organisations. The findings have major implications for port managers and port policy-makers for developing a region-oriented long-term port planning and for creating environment for Australian regional ports for regional resource configuration.     

英国疏浚土有益利用进展及其对我国的启示

欧美、日本等发达国家在疏浚土有益利用方面起步较早,积累的经验也较丰富。以英国为例,分析疏浚土处置现状和特点,从技术和政策2个层面总结英国疏浚土有益利用的主要进展,并提出其对我国的启示。结果表明,英国拥有权责明晰的疏浚土管理体系和专门的疏浚土有益利用研究机构,十分注重疏浚土有益利用的技术指导和政策法规引导,近20 a来取得了Wallasea岛湿地修复、Thames河口泥沙环境维护等诸多典型成功案例。借鉴英国经验,现阶段乃至未来一段时期内,我国疏浚土有益利用工作应着重把握3大方面,即获取政府和各相关方的支持、建立专门的管理和研究机构、制定相关的政策和法规制度等。