Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
23
through integrating EIA into the planning process. It also provides transparent procedures that
are followed when deciding on the choice of alignments.
Sweden has the national freight model, called Samgods, that is used specifically in the national
plan for breaking down the economic forecast to regional transport growth numbers used in sub
models or and for making sensitivity analysis of different scenarios. Samgods is modelling the
national level with transport solutions for domestic, import, export and transit for all transport
modes.
It is also important to note that Tanzania has several "international corridors" connecting its
east coast to neighbouring inland countries, and that development in such infrastructure has a
great impact not only on Tanzanian economy but also on the economic growth in the rest of the
East Africa region. In that sense, transport infrastructure in Tanzania (both hard and soft) needs
to be designated not only as a domestic asset but also as a common asset shared with the
neighbouring economies. As is the case for one of the TAZARA (Tanzania Railway Company)
railway lines that links the Copper Belt in Zambia to the port of Dar es Salaam.
It is worth noting that integrating international transport networks, that passing through a
country, into its transport master plan is of importance since such infrastructure has a great
impact not only on the economy of the particular country but also the economic growth in the
rest of the region. An example of this is the Tanzania Comprehensive Transport and Trade
System Development Master Plan 2030 that incorporate the development of international
corridors that connect the East Africa region.
2.5. Procedural Factors, including Financing
NTI plans are complex and have a long duration, from conception to realisation. They require
large sums of investment, along with considerable risks. They have an impact on society, the
economy and on the landscape. The group of potential users is large and geographically spread.
Therefore decision-making is often paved with procedures.
Ideally, decision hierarchy starts at the strategic level and ends at a pragmatic and detailed level.
Strategic questions relate to policy objectives (What is our goal?), to options (What are the
various ways to reach our goals?) and to means and restrictions (What are the means
available?).
NTI planning can be the choice of one decision maker, or involve many professionals and
civilians, and follow a series of procedural phases. NTI plans often include a wide range of
documents, ranging from country development plans, transport investment plans to lists of
approved projects for public investment and project appraisal documents.
Figure 3 illustrates the NTI decision framework as applied in New South Wales (Australia).