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Sustainable Transport Award

12 Dec 2007

Every year, the Sustainable Transport Award is given to a city that has had a profound impact on enhancing the sustainability and livability of its community or region through innovative transportation strategies, while lessening the impact of climate change through reduced transportation greenhouse and air pollution emissions.

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 for bicyclists and pedestrians 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.

The Award is open to all cities and major jurisdictions.  The cities or regions that are nominated should be distinguished by their impact, innovation, and leadership in the transport sector.  This degree of change could be seen in:

  • Creating safer streets, resulting in fewer road accidents and injuries,
  • Improving the air quality by reducing traffic-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,
  • Increasing healthier choices for its citizens for getting around the city, such as walking and cycling, and
  • Achieving greater passenger satisfaction on public transportation by offering better alternatives or as illustrated in increased ridership.

The award selection is organized by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), Environmental Defense (ED), the US Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on Transportation in Developing Countries, the regional Clean Air Initiatives (CAIs) for Asia, Latin America, and Africa; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and the United Nations’ Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD).

Each organization is responsible for nominating one city or jurisdiction for the Sustainable Transport Award and may nominate cities or projects for best practice honorable mentions. The regional CAIs are encouraged to solicit nominations from the local nonprofits and cities that they work with.

Past Winners

2007 Winner

Guayaquil, Ecuador
Under Mayor Jaime Nebot’s leadership, Metrovia, the new bus rapid transit system, opened its first 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), providing cleaner, higher quality service and reducing trip times in key travel corridors. Also, previously deteriorated public spaces, including Guayaquil’s waterfront and Santa Ana district, were refurbished to encourage pedestrian use and form an important part of the city’s resurgence. In addition, the city celebrated its first Car-Free Sunday in September 2006, closing streets to traffic and allowing thousands of residents to enjoy the city by walking and riding bicycles.

Watch the video below, which highlights Guayaquil’s achievements.





2007 Honorable Mentions

Mexico City – for introducing ultra-low sulfur diesel, for continued improvements in vehicle inspection and maintenance, and for the Metrobus BRT corridor

Quito, Ecuador – for efforts to re-establish exclusive bus priority on its Trolebus BRT system, after initially re-opening lanes to cars and taxis

Jakarta, Indonesia – for extending its TransJakarta BRT system from one to three corridors in 2006, using CNG buses in the new corridors, modernizing interchanges and improving corridor sidewalks

Beijing, China – for expanding its BRT system and overcoming some operational challenges, significantly increasing ridership

Hangzhou, China – for opening a near-BRT bus priority system complete with improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians

Stockholm, Sweden – for its congestion charging pilot program

2006 Winner

Seoul, Korea
Under the leadership of Mayor Myung Bak Lee, a four-mile elevated highway that once covered the Cheonggyecheon River in the city center was replaced with a riverfront park, high quality walkways, and public squares. Exclusive median bus lanes were constructed along 36 miles of congested streets, and the city government is now planning additional bus lanes as part of a broader initiative to improve all aspects of the city’s bus system.

Click on the video below to see highlights of Seoul’s renewal.

2006 Honorable Mentions

Jakarta, Indonesia – for opening the first full bus rapid transit system in Asia, as well as improving public space and pedestrian access to the system

Guayaquil, Ecuador – for creating a beautiful waterfront public park, as well as constructing a new bus rapid transit system

Mexico City, Mexico – for opening its Metrobus bus rapid transit system, carrying over 250,000 passengers a day

Beijing, China – for opening the second full BRT system in Asia, serving 75,000 passengers per day

Santiago, Chile – for its new bike lanes

Dakar, Senegal – for holding West Africa’s first ever Car Free day

Cape Town, South Africa – for continued government sponsored car-free days

Stockholm, Sweden – for its congestion charging program

London, United Kingdom – for its congestion charging program

2005 Winner

Bogotà, Colombia
Under Mayor Enrique PenalosaFor the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system, bicycle integration into mass transit, and redefining and reclaiming public space for its citizens