HCM City seeks to be a pioneer in implementing transit-oriented development, focusing on the urban railway system. — VNA/VNS Photo Tiến Lực

HCM CITY — HCM City is expected to be a pioneer in implementing transit-oriented development (TOD) with railway lines at the core of the urban transport system.

The city’s Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR) on May 12 organised a workshop discussing TOD and Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the development of the city’s urban railway system.

The municipal People's Committee vice chairman Bùi Xuân Cường said that Japan had been successful in implementing TOD in the PPP form.

The city had proposed to the National Assembly to pilot special mechanisms and policies for the development of the entire city, including developing the urban transport system.

It aims to develop a smart, modern and highly connected transport system, focusing on metro lines and electric vehicles.

“If the National Assembly approves the proposal, the city will be a pioneer in implementing TOD, and the urban railway is the core,” he said.

Therefore, discussions would be very important to contribute to building special mechanisms and policies for the application of TOD in the development of the urban railway system.

It also needed to discuss policies to recommend the development of TOD and PPP models, including related financial mechanisms, and learn from international experiences and lessons that could be applied in the coming time, he added.

Many experts attending the workshop also discussed raising awareness of authorities and investors on mechanisms and policies to deploy railway development through Japan's experiences, thereby, perfecting institutions and legal bases, especially relevant laws.

Kurose Yasuo, first secretary of the Japanese Embassy, said HCM City was a major economic centre of Việt Nam, and Japan was very interested in cooperation with the city.

Through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan had so far promoted development through many projects, typically metro line no. 1 which had been tested and city dwellers were looking forward to.

“If only one metro line works, the effectiveness will be limited. Therefore, the TOD model will contribute to increase effectiveness,” he said.

Japan was very interested in enhancing the connection between metro and bus, and planning urban functions along the railway with the utmost aim that people do not depend on personal vehicles, he said.

Other experts shared experiences on the TOD model oriented to public transport development, in which the urban railway system plays a key role, as a basis for planning and urban development in order to improve the efficiency of land use and public works as well as reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

The TOD development model associated with the exploitation of land funds was a fundamental and long-term solution, especially in creating investment resources to develop the urban railway network.

Adjusting policies and addressing related issues to accelerate the implementation of the urban railway system would also be necessary, they said.

TOD brings together elements of land use and transport planning, urban design, urban regeneration, real estate development, financing, land value capture, and infrastructure implementation to achieve more sustainable urban development. — VNS