Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
104
 The reduction of the infrastructure deficit to open up and strengthen regional
interconnection;
 Improving Governance and Establishing a Successful Public Administration.
There is no doubt, therefore, that the transport sector must occupy an important place in the
SEP so that the main objectives of the three pillars mentioned can be achieved.
3.4.3. Technical Factors
As part of the study, the analysis of technical factors has a major role in NTI planning. In
particular, it is worth to observe if Senegal uses an integrated approach of policy and transport
modes as described above. The integration of policy aspects such as land use and multi-modal
transport logistics is crucial for more sustainable planning outcomes.
Regarding transport performance, the system of roads in Senegal is one of the most developed
in West Africa and almost all the roads are paved and connect all major towns. The importance
of the capital, Dakar, is also shown by the fact that it is the endpoint of three different routes in
Trans-African Highway Network that links it respectively with Cairo, Ndjamena and Lagos.
The road network is ordered hierarchically considering the demographic and socioeconomic
criteria. There are seven national roads prefixed with “N” and numbered from 1 to 7. They
provide link between the regional capitals and localities of national/international interest.
Secondly, there are regional roads (R) that connect department capitals or towns of regional
interest. The departmental road (D) provides the link between the district capital or towns of
interest for the department. Finally, the remaining roads are classified as urban road (VU).
From surveys and questionnaire responses the level of holistic planning in transport sectors in
Senegal, in terms of the integration among various aspects such as land use, multi-modal
transport logistics and communication plans is reputed high. Respondents included ministerial
and academia/private institutions. However, the bias is the common one for this kind of data,
and the response is a relative one. In addition, lacking a benchmark and measures it is tough to
properly define the benefits from holistic and integrated planning. As an example, the relative
insignificance of waterways transport have been already mentioned. Nonetheless, geo-political
importance of the Port of Dakar, the only significant maritime transport way, will lead
interviewees to consider the extent of complementarity of road, rail, air and water-based
transport modes as high, interpreted in the sense of interacting rather than competing.
In terms of the application of socio-economic evaluation/cost benefit analysis in transport
infrastructure planning to prioritize projects, it is a mandatory requirement. It is also mandatory
that the technical and implementation studies of transport infrastructures include an
Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. In the context of the analysis of the project on
going, the results of these assessments have an important role and condition the decision-
making process and the financing decision by institutions. In Senegal, the environmental impact
study is regulated by the Environmental Code (Law No. 2001-01) and its implementing decree
(No. 2001-282). The Environmental Code states in the article L48 that “any development project
or activity likely to harm the environment, as well as the policies, the plans, programs, regional
and sectoral studies will be subject to an environmental assessment.”