Achieving low carbon urban growth through an electrified urban transport system

• CNR is one of the largest transport hubs in Thailand. Roads are the main mode of transport in the city, leading to congestion and poor air quality, and alternative travel options are limited
• Nakhon Ratchasima is one of the 30 "smart cities" designated by the government to receive significant investment. An electrified urban transport system has been identified as a key component in achieving this
• The goal to become a "smart city" aligns with the national development plan 4.0 of Thailand and the 20-year Master Plan of Thailand. The plan includes goals of increasing usage of public transportation and decreasing GHG emissions from land transport by 2050
• In 2019, 53% of CNR’s total population were female, 18% were under 18 years old, and 17% were elderly. The project integrated GESI interventions to facilitate safer and more accessible usage of public transport for women and young people

The project analysed the CNR context across four key aspects:

• Transport system: Designed electrified urban transport routes and stations accounting for equal access, convenience and culture of the local community (including estimations of future travel behaviour)
• Cost-benefit: Analysis to assess the value of an electrified urban transport system
• Environmental impacts: Estimated air quality improvements and GHG emissions reductions resulting from a fully electrified urban transport system
• Policy and regulation: Analysis of CNR transport business, financial and funding practices, and the land use law

This analysis formed the basis to develop a set of policy recommendations that supported policymakers’ decision-making. The recommendations included a proposal for five electrified urban transport routes and 33 stations which could generate £67.2M in profit, reduce 43,000+ tons of CO₂e, and improve air quality by 41% by 2042 compared to 2021). One route has already been approved as a pilot by the CNR Municipality. To support the implementation of the recommendations, the project held a capacity building session, training 52 people on the project development process, integration of GESI, public transport design and feasibility, and law and regulations.

The recommendations also highlighted three key areas to be considered. Firstly, the construction phase of an electrified urban transport system should account for the travel inconvenience of local people. Secondly, both public and private finance will be required to meet the capital required to implement the recommendations. Finally, acquiring the land for the construction is critical, with five different options outlined.

The team undertook a stakeholder mapping process to identify key marginalised groups in CNR. These groups were able to actively participate in the project through public hearings, workshops, focus groups, interviews and surveys, allowing them and identify important 'public transport user' factors. 53% of interviewees were women, while around half of those involved in focus groups represented marginalised groups. Representatives from groups like the Korat Disabled Persons Association also attended the project workshop.

Key factors identified were safety, accessibility, comfort and affordability. For example, one key marginalised group is people with disabilities, who identified the need for low floors on buses, ramps at bus stops, and audio and visual signals to assist with use of the transport system. The suggestions were embedded into the design of routes and stations, ensuring the project adopted a ‘Transport for All’ concept. As part of this, the project team identified four key GESI-focused areas for action:

• Beyond counting: GESI actions can go beyond measuring participation of men and women, instead blending GESI into scientific research methods, mathematic modelling and policy formulation
• Replicability: Developing and executing a GESI action plan can be replicated in project implementation in other cities and sectors
• Leave no one behind: GESI processes and the action plan assures that all key stakeholders have the opportunity to be involved
• GESI mainstreaming in policy recommendations: GESI considerations are embedded into policy recommendations to improve stakeholders’ awareness of GESI issues, reaching high-level decision-makers

The project team provided recommendations and lessons to support the implementation of electrified urban systems in CNR and other cities/regions, including:

• GESI and human-centred thinking frameworks is highly recommended in future analyses to support successful and meaningful design and implementation of electrified urban transport systems. This approach was essential in developing an inclusive analysis of CNR’s potential electrified urban transport system Feedback from vulnerable groups fed directly into the design of the proposed routes and stations
• Launching a project pilot is recommended to showcase the potential of the system to key stakeholders. This ensures the buy-in required to deliver successfully at scale
• Policymakers facing similar climate, pollution and congestion challenges should consider the benefits of electrified urban transport systems and explore developing them in other regions and other countries (e.g., Malaysia and China)