Publication: Design and Appraisal of Rural Transport Infrastructure : Ensuring Basic Access for Rural Communities
Date
2001-04
ISSN
Published
2001-04
Author(s)
Lebo, Jerry
Schelling, Dieter
Abstract
Isolation contributes to rural poverty.
Without a minimum of reliable and efficient access to
locations of basic social and economic activities, rural
life stagnates and local development prospects remain
limited. Providing and maintaining a minimum level of
access, referred to in this paper as basic access, is
therefore a necessary element of any rural development
strategy. Overcoming isolation necessitates holistic
strategies. Approaches include improved logistics to support
trade and communication, the promotion of transport services
and intermediaite means of transport, improved quality and
location of services, and the sustaianable provision of
cost-effective transport infrastrucutre. Among these, the
cost-effective design and appraisal of rural transport
infrastructure (RTI) is the topic of this paper. A basic
access approach to the provision of RTI is presented which
gives priority to the provision and maintenance of reliable,
all-season access. Basic access interventions are defined as
the least-cost investments which provide a minimum level of
all-season passability. In a majority of cases, this means
single-lane, spot-improved earth or gravel roads. In
situations where motorized basic access is not affordable,
improvement of the existing path network and the
construction of footbridges may be the only alternative.
resources are scarce. Therefore the basic access approach
should only employ the most appropriate and cost-effective interventions.
Citation
“Lebo, Jerry; Schelling, Dieter. 2001. Design and Appraisal of Rural Transport Infrastructure : Ensuring Basic Access for Rural Communities. World Bank Technical Paper;No. 496. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/a6b577ff-c0af-57c8-9ab3-3df33d29b363 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”