hardware nuts
privatisation and regulation of urban transit systems no. 141
urban public transport services generally run at a large deficit . this has led public authorities to seek efficiencies notably through private sector involvement . private entry is complicated by the essential network characteristics of public transport with parts of the network potentially profitable and others perennially unprofitable . support for the sector traditionally seeks to provide basic mobility services to all segments of society including low income users . intervention is also required to manage the natural tendency towards concentration and market power in the provision of these transport services . policy towards urban public transport is increasingly aimed at managing congestion on the roads and mitigating co2 emissions by substituting for travel by car . the sprawl of cities complicates the regulatory environment as responsibilities tend to be split among different institutional levels . achieving coherent transport networks that are efficient and financially sustainable is a challenge for any public authority . this round table examines experience in integrating private management and capital with public transport policy objectives in a number of developed economies . for network operators the round table concludes that innovation is the key to surviving the rapidly changing policy and regulatory environment .