2nd Quarter 2005
Improving the Future of
Transportation

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Regional and National Transportation Plans
Eastern Europe
Asia
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Regional and National Transportation Plans

Regional and national transportation plans provide an excellent tool for meeting long-term community goals. Berger planners work to achieve this vision by carefully analyzing movement, anticipated demand and current network capacities. Team members then develop efficient, cost-effective and technologically-advanced networks. The most efficient systems successfully balance such diverse issues as demand, socio-economic development and environmental preservation and allow transportation networks to function seamlessly. Berger's 40 years of experience in regional and national transport planning have allowed the Group to foster successful networks around the globe.

EASTERN EUROPE

Connecting the Region
Currently, the nations of Eastern Europe are making new investments in infrastructure and technology in anticipation of joining the EU. One of the most important sectors for investment is the development and integration of multimodal transport networks.

Since 1991, the Berger Group has supported the development of national and regional transportation improvements throughout Eastern Europe. As part of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, Berger identified and implemented regional programs to upgrade and improve the management of transportation networks in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania and assisted local planners in developing long-term transportation plans.

Berger has also provided long-term multimodal planning for Corridor V of the Trans-European Network. This key route links Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia and provides direct access to the ports of the Northern Adriatic Sea. The Berger team identified a €2.9 billion priority improvement program for multimodal rail, road and transfer facilities, including upgrading the Port of Koper in Slovenia, the Budapest and Bratislava bypasses, a 120-kilometer highway from Zenica to the Croatian border and the streamlining of customs and border-crossing procedures.

Recently, Berger has taken on a number of new assignments in Albania, Romania and Bosnia designed to improve national networks and enhance regional transportation. In Albania, the Berger team assessed the current and future demand for regional and multimodal transport under the EU-financed Albanian National Transport Plan. To establish a comprehensive transportation plan which supports Albania's overall development and makes efficient use of scarce resources, Berger planners prepared a €690 million investment and institutional reform program which included short-, medium- and long-term public- and private-sector transportation investment plans. Increasing private investment in transportation was identified as a key objective as Albania transitions from a centralized economy to a free-market system. The Team focused on encouraging increased transparency and improving the regulatory framework accompanied by incentives to promote private sector participation while ensuring appropriate safety and environmental standards. The Team also focused on ways to promote greater integration of the Albanian transport network with those of other nations.

For more than 10 years, Berger has worked with Romanian planners to upgrade regional transportation networks. Improving rural transportation will be a key factor in the growth of Romania's economy, and the Ministry of Administration and Interior selected Louis Berger SAS to prepare cost-effective road design standards under the nationwide Romania Rural Development Project. The Team surveyed low-volume routes throughout Romania, identified common maintenance challenges and recommended improved pavement designs, maintenance and materials testing. The Team then developed comprehensive design and maintenance manuals which incorporated information on international highway standards, improved designs for cross sections and drainage and cost-effective maintenance procedures.

Berger also worked with Romania's Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing to prepare feasibility studies for improvements of the Cernavoda to Constanta section of the European Corridor IV, including a 22.9-kilometer bypass around Constanta. Berger transportation specialists conducted vehicle operation and demand studies, collected extensive traffic, engineering and economic data then identified three alternate routes for the highway and two alternate routes for the Constanta bypass. To select the best route, traffic specialists conducted multiple simulations to evaluate vehicle operating costs, travel times, accident rates and the environmental and economic impacts of each route. Once a route was selected, the Team developed preliminary designs which meet Romanian and EU highway standards and prepared cost estimates, environmental studies and tender documents.

Plans have been underway to improve the M 17 motorway linking Sarajevo with south-western Bosnia since 1990. This route is a critical part of Corridor V of the Pan-European Transport Network and one of three main highways serving more than 17,000 vehicles per day. The section traveling through the center of Sarajevo was particularly congested and plans have been underway to build a bypass since 1990. Despite an initial start on construction, the bypass was halted in 1992 as a result of the Balkan War.

More than 10 years later, transportation planners are renewing their efforts to complete this €20 million bypass. Under this initiative, Louis Berger SAS was selected to review traffic studies, revise the highway designs and reassess the financial and economic feasibility of the bypass. The Berger team updated traffic movements, analyzed national and local economic conditions, conducted environmental impact studies and updated designs to meet international highway standards. Once these activities were completed, Berger worked with officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Communication and international donors to obtain funding for construction.

ASIA

Strategic Regional Transport Planning in Bangladesh
In just 50 years, Bangladesh has undergone a transportation revolution, building more than 20,000 kilometers of roads and adding new rail lines, bridges, airports and improved waterways. Since 1959, Berger's Dhaka office has assisted in this important effort.

In 2004, the World Bank funded a $177 million Strategic Transport Plan to improve transport services for the city's 10 million residents. This program is upgrading the city's extensive transportation network by developing an updated urban transport policy and a long-term strategic plan; encouraging improved intermodal transfers; resurfacing major urban corridors as well as non-motorized traffic lanes; introducing improved parking and zoning regulations; strengthening vehicle registration and driver licensing procedures; and phasing out polluting vehicles.

As part of this comprehensive effort, the Dhaka Transportation Coordination Board selected the Berger Group to prepare an updated transportation study, formulate new urban transport policies and strengthen Bangladesh's existing transportation agencies. The Berger team began by evaluating previous transport studies, including the Dhaka Integrated Transport Study formulated by Berger in 1994. To accommodate recent and anticipated growth, Berger updated the 20-year Strategic Transport Plan which established goals, in five-year increments, for transportation improvements and incorporated these in the existing Dhaka Metropolitan Development plan. The Team also identified priority projects and steps necessary to ensure funding and approval for each project.

The recommended plan places special emphasis on the integration of land use and improved zoning. A key element of the plan was reducing accidents and improving traffic flow by separating fast and slower moving traffic. To accomplish this, the plan created separate lanes for Dhaka's traditional rickshaws and developed more than 175 kilometers of pedestrian footways, resulting in a significant reduction in congestion and collisions. Berger also focused on improving bus service and other intermodal connections.

Decentralizing government in Bangladesh is one of the nation's priorities for the 21st century, and Berger specialists launched an ambitious institutional strengthening and capacity building program for the Dhaka Transport Coordination Board, Dhaka City Corporation, Disaster Management Project, and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority officials. Through these initiatives, Dhaka will be able to more effectively manage transportation and better meet future transportation demands.

Rebuilding Iraq's Transportation Sector

The Berger Group helps upgrade Iraq's transportation network, including airports, ports, roads and railway stations
After 30 years of Ba'athist rule, war and sanctions, Iraq's transportation network is in urgent need of reconstruction. To assist in this monumental effort, the Department of Defense selected the Berger Group, in association with URS, to upgrade Iraq's transportation network. Under this $565 million effort, the Team is managing over 170 individual projects, including improvements to the Baghdad, Al Basrah and Mosul airports; the upgrade of the port of Umm Qasr; the rehabilitation of 101 railway stations and the construction of more than 600 kilometers of roads.

To meet the many pressing deadlines involved in the reconstruction, the Team quickly mobilized to Iraq, sending a preliminary group of engineers and planners within days of the contract award. One of the most important aspects of a well planned reconstruction effort is an understanding of a nation's needs and goals. To ensure that the planned reconstruction projects meshed with the needs of the Iraqi people, Team members worked with Iraqi officials as well as local community leaders and private stakeholders to better understand the goals and the cultural, geographic and economic characteristics of each region.

The Team quickly assessed the condition and capacity of the current modal infrastructure and rolling stock, evaluated current and historic demand for transportation services in Iraq and identified needs for increased capacity. Based on the findings, the Team worked with Iraqi officials, international donors, local governments and private stakeholders to prioritize short-term reconstruction projects and develop an ambitious implementation schedule.

This large and complex reconstruction effort required careful planning, design and construction to maintain quality, schedule and budget, and the Team had to carefully identify input needs and linkages for each project. Berger/URS engineers created preliminary designs and cost estimates within three to five days followed by detailed project definitions, including complete cost estimates and schedules.

The Team is also supervising the procurement of key equipment, materials and supplies for priority transportation projects, a challenging task in Iraq. Faced with rising prices, the Team has worked to reduce costs by introducing cost-effective designs and maximizing the use of Iraqi contractors and engineers.

A key component of this assignment is increasing the capacity of local and national officials to plan and supervise new transportation initiatives. The institutional strengthening component began once the contract was signed. An advanced group of Berger/URS transportation managers worked with ministry sector representatives, regional and local government officials and other donors to identify priority projects. This successful cooperation has continued throughout the implementation process, with Team members and government officials collaborating to launch complex improvement programs. The Team is also working with Iraqi construction firms and training local workers in improved project management and contracting procedures, building new skills and encouraging community involvement while increasing employment.

The port of Umm Qasr has long been a source of pride for the Iraqi people. Built in 1958, Umm Qasr is designed to handle agricultural and manufactured goods and is Iraq's only deep-water commercial port. As a result, its reconstruction was among the Team's first challenges. As part of an initial 20-day rapid assessment, Berger/ABAM and SSA Marine engineers and port operations specialists were dispatched in April 2003 to evaluate the port and identify priority upgrades.

Within five days, Berger/ABAM evaluated the existing wharf structure and berth conditions and identified dredging priorities, yard modifications, security requirements, buildings and access improvements and infrastructure needs. Although the Port infrastructure suffered only minor damage during the war, the electrical system was found to be too dangerous to operate and in need of replacement. Potable water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage systems were also inoperable. During the assessment, port engineers found that as a result of silting, the port lacked berths with water deep enough for standard-size ships causing larger vessels to rest on the bottom at low tide, even in the deepest berths.

Once the assessment was completed, Berger/ABAM and SSA prepared a report for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which included a list of repairs and recommendations to allow the port to accommodate larger vessels and restore essential services.

Following Berger/ABAM's recommendation, the Berger/URS Team has undertaken $23 million in improvements, including the construction of new roll-on/roll-off berths, jetty fenders and the installation of new cranes, boats and port machinery. The Team is also supervising the design and reconstruction of the electrical system which will provide the warehouses, cranes and security and fire systems with a dedicated electrical source. The upgrade of these facilities will be critical in allowing the port to accommodate the anticipated 50 percent increase in cargo and ferry passengers expected once the port is improved.

The consultants are also working to modernize Iraq's three major airports to allow them to achieve international aviation certification. The Team worked with local and national officials to develop a $90 million program of critical projects. The Team then began the renovation of the Baghdad International Airport Terminal in December 2004, including terminal improvements, the removal of two 1,700-ton water chillers and the upgrade of the water, sewer, radar, navigation and visual systems. The Team is planning similar renovations on the terminal, radar and navigational and visual aids at Basrah International Airport.

In Mosul, work has begun on the upgrade of the airfield, control tower and radar systems. The Iraqi engineers have already provided the Team with preliminary designs and the Team is preparing to start work on these critical upgrades. The Team is also working with the Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR) to rehabilitate and improve 101 railway stations around the country. To date, the Team has upgraded 35 stations while work is underway on another 59. The Team also assisted the IRR in routing trains around damaged rail cars, restoring rail service to the port of Kwar Az Zubair.

Berger/URS is also responsible for managing almost $200 million in road and bridge construction using the Iraqi State Commission of Roads and Bridges to design, advertise, award and manage the construction on behalf of the project and contracting office, a significant advance in transitioning responsibilities to the Iraqi Government. Currently, the 70-kilometer Al Diwaniyah-Al Samawah Second Carriageway and the Al Shurqat and Kufa Third Bridge Projects have been contracted. The Team worked closely with the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office, the Iraqi Ministry of Construction and Housing, the Project and Contracting Office and the U.S. Departments of Defense and State to launch this delivery procedure. In addition, the Team performed value engineering for the 1980s-era design of the 14-kilometer, six-lane divided Al Dora Yousafiyah Freeway which identified savings that reduced the final cost of this project by 25 percent.

The development of rural roads across Iraq will increase economic opportunities for many of the nation's poorest citizens. To ensure the rapid completion of priority local roads and provide new opportunities for Iraqi contractors, the joint venture assisted local firms in preparing bids and proposals and is currently managing a $33 million local road construction program in 14 of Iraq's 18 governorates. As part of the upgrade of the road network, the Team prepared designs for the Zuba and Nassiryah Bridges and is working with local contractors to build three new bridges in Al Sharquat, Kufa and Sheikh Sa'ad.

In addition to meeting the short-term priority reconstruction needs, the Team is assisting the government of Iraq and international donors, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and a number of bilateral agencies, to plan for the long-term development of Iraq's multimodal transportation network.

Upgrading Timor-Leste Networks
Roads are the dominant mode of transport in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and the nation has a substantial 6,000-kilometer road network, including 3,000 kilometers of rural roads. However, this network is in poor condition as a result of heavy rainfall, erosion and inadequate maintenance. The preservation and expansion of the road network is essential for this young nation's development. The Berger Group, in association with KWK Consultants, is identifying new investment needs, developing a comprehensive road maintenance plan, training regional road managers and preparing a master plan and preliminary designs for the upgrade of several hundred kilometers of roads under a $10 million ADB program.

To provide an understanding of the existing network and identify needed improvements, the Berger team reviewed existing traffic surveys, studies and ongoing programs; evaluated the priorities outlined in the existing Transportation Sector Investment Program; and analyzed existing data on the road network. To ensure that the development of new routes strengthens Timor's economy, Berger reviewed existing economic and income distribution data. Berger specialists also reviewed road conditions and current maintenance practices, identified funding options and assessed the capabilities of the local construction industry. Following this initial assessment, Team members went into the field to conduct traffic volume, origin-destination and axle load studies and evaluate the current condition of the road network.

To develop a long-term investment plan for Timor, Berger highway specialists will assess present and future traffic demand and develop long-term forecasts. The Team will then evaluate the needs of the area, including agricultural development, poverty alleviation and environmental concerns and create 5-year and 10-year investment programs which will include new highway investments and encourage more efficient use of maintenance funds. Following the development of these plans, Berger specialists will prepare preliminary engineering designs and bid documents and conduct a detailed socio-economic analysis to evaluate the impact of the proposed program at reducing poverty.

In keeping with the ADB's focus on poverty reduction, poverty alleviation specialists are conducting extensive economic analyses and social impact assessments. To identify the impact and distribution of project benefits, the Team prepared a budget for the program.

To enhance the ability of the Directorate General of Roads, Bridges and Flood Control (DGRBFC) and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Public Works (MOTCPW), Berger experts are also evaluating the existing structure of the agencies, identifying current legal, staffing and administrative constraints and recommending programs, strategies and policies to encourage increased efficiency. To plan and implement future road development, Berger specialists are also collaborating with planners from the DGRBFC and the MOTCPW to enable them to identify needed improvements and finance upgrades.

Supporting the Gaza Regional Transport and Logistics Plan
One of the greatest challenges facing the Palestinian Authority is unemployment. Currently, more than 35 percent of Palestine's labor force is without work. To address this issue, USAID sponsored the $13 million Expanded Economic Opportunities Program. As part of this initiative, USAID selected the Berger Group to undertake the Gaza Regional Transport and Logistics Plan. Under this five-part program, Berger developed a long-term plan to improve commercial transportation and freight movements.

The Berger team worked with transportation planners from the Palestinian Authority to draft short- and long-term plans to improve export and import handling in Gaza. The Team analyzed existing shipping options, including ports, airports and roads and identified current and future demand. Because of the ongoing regional conflict, Berger prepared several scenarios to improve logistical services, facilitate cross-border trade and encourage private transportation investments. The Team also developed three industrial parks in Gaza-the Gaza Industrial Estate, the General Logistics Facility and the Local Industrial State Park.

AFRICA

Improving Transportation Planning
The development of improved transportation networks has been a continuing concern in post-colonial Africa, but many regions of the continent remain inaccessible, and the high cost of transportation makes African goods less competitive on the world markets. Since 1958, the Berger Group has worked with African governments to plan and implement projects to upgrade all modes of transportation. Recently, the Group has introduced a number of new strategies to address these needs.

Mozambique has only 5,000 kilometers of railways and 5,000 kilometers of paved roadways. In order for the country to develop its rich natural resources and increase trade with its neighbors, it must expand its transportation network and develop new strategies for the investment, operation and maintenance of these systems. The African Development Bank selected Louis Berger SAS to identify and evaluate transportation priorities and draft a long-term transportation sector strategy. Berger specialists analyzed the current network, anticipated traffic demand and the need for new facilities and services. The Team then evaluated available funding and prepared a list of priority transportation investment programs. To encourage more reliable funding sources, Berger experts recommended additional public-private partnerships, the establishment of independent road and maritime funds and the creation of transportation-oriented micro-finance institutions.

Louis Berger SAS also assisted Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, which form the East African Community (EAC), upgrade key transportation networks through an AFD-funded program. The Team analyzed the current and future demand for road, rail, marine and air travel and the EAC member's existing transportation plans. Based on these analyses, Berger identified priority projects and prepared feasibility studies, cost estimates and a funding strategy for the AFD.

The Berger Group also worked in Tanzania to evaluate the success of a USAID-funded rural road program. Team members surveyed and evaluated road upgrades in more than 20 districts and found that the program had made impressive strides in improving rural secondary roads, lowering transportation costs, raising rural production and incomes and improving the quality of life for more than 70 percent of the road users. The program had also encouraged the development of local contractors. As a result of this impressive success, Berger recommended expanding the program to include links to the national road network. To accommodate these changes within TANROADS, Tanzania's road agency, Berger recommended the use of private consulting engineers to supervise construction and modifying contractor selection criteria, introducing more flexibility in budgeting and streamlining the bidding process.

Developing a Comprehensive Transportation Plan for Madagascar
Antananarivo, the political and administrative capital of Madagascar, is also the nation's largest city with a metropolitan population of more than 1.6 million. In recent years, the historic city has prospered, resulting in increased gridlock. To reduce congestion and foster the development of mass transit, the Secretariat Executif du Programme Sectoriel des Transports selected the Berger Group to develop a 5- and 10-year transportation master plans for the Antananarivo region.

Developing a transportation plan for the area presented a number of challenges. The city, originally founded in 1625 as a walled fortification, is strategically located between the steep hills of Madagascar's central highlands and a rich agricultural plain. These boundaries have constrained expansion and limited the space available for rail transit, roads and parking.

In order to better define the demand for regional transport and the present trip patterns, the Team conducted an extensive household survey incorporating all modes of transit including walking and biking. The Team also conducted traffic counts, stated preference studies and parking surveys, including specific surveys to target opportunities for increased mass transit ridership. Berger then prepared a thorough assessment of the existing road network and mass transit system and identified current and potential bottlenecks as well as areas in need of improvement.

The data was used to simulate the urban and regional transport networks. Berger experts prepared forecasts of future demand, identified current and future network constraints and created a staged-development plan. For the short-term, the Team focused on improved traffic management by reducing on-street parking, improving signing and lane designations, upgrading crossroads and roadways and creating dedicated bus lanes. The Team also recommended a major reorganization of the public bus system. To facilitate long-term increases in ridership, Berger recommended developing dedicated-line light rail transit and upgrading local roads and parking areas.

Berger also carefully analyzed the likely impact of zoning and changing land use on current and anticipated traffic congestion and recommended a new city-wide land use policy, focusing on the development of commercial zones and introducing procedures for city officials to draft and enforce these regulations.

Managing and Financing Road Maintenance
Increasingly, African nations are turning to independent road agencies to fund highway maintenance. Under a World Bank-funded initiative, the Louis Berger Group was selected to assist the government of Uganda to develop an autonomous road agency. The Berger team is working with the Road Agency Formation Unit, a transitional organization reporting to the Ministry of Housing and Communications, to evaluate alternate funding structures and develop the necessary skills for administering large road programs. The Berger team is providing specific guidance in four areas- procurement, highway engineering and planning, soils and hydrology analysis and environmental and social impact analysis. In addition, Berger is assisting the agency in the management of the nation's ambitious $1.5 billion Road Sector Development Program, involving the rehabilitation and improvement of much of Uganda's 27,000-mile road network.

Under a European Development Fund-financed project, Louis Berger SAS assisted the National Roads Authority of Malawi in developing a comprehensive road database and trained officials in the preparation and implementation of modern road maintenance programs.

In 2000, Louis Berger SAS assisted Senegal in organizing an Autonomous Road Works Agency (AATR) to plan, program, contract and supervise the maintenance of local and national roads. However, the AATR lacked adequate resources, relying on fluctuating state funding. To address this problem, the Ministry of Economy and Finance again selected Berger in 2004 to assist in the organization and establishment of an independent road fund. The Team evaluated the existing framework of the AATR and its current and future funding needs. Berger specialists then worked with officials to develop a road user charging system and associated collection, management and audit procedures. In addition to the fund operation, Berger legal specialists developed a comprehensive legal framework and operations procedures for the AATR.

In land-locked Ethiopia, roads are the primary means of transport for 93 percent of freight and 95 percent of passengers. As a result, Ethiopia has invested heavily in the national road system. Through the World Bank, African Development Bank and other donor funding, Ethiopia established an independent Road Fund in 1997 to finance and supervise the reconstruction, maintenance and further expansion of the road network. Since 1998, the Road Fund has provided $25 million a year for the periodic and routine maintenance of national, regional and local roads. To ensure proper performance, the Ethiopian Roads Authority selected the Berger Group to carry out a performance audit and to design and implement a technical and financial monitoring system to ensure the continued application of sound financial management practices and quality maintenance. During the technical audit, Berger teams inspected recently upgraded roads to assess their quality, durability and conformity to national and international standards. The Team also evaluated unit costs of basic maintenance tasks to provide the Road Fund with reliable budgeting information. As part of the financial audit, Berger specialists reviewed fund disbursement procedures and actual payments and prepared recommendations where merited for improved internal controls and disbursement procedures.

LATIN AMERICA

Upgrading Guatemala's Transportation Networks
Under a six-year, $518 million dollar initiative, the Berger Group assisted Guatemala's Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) to develop and execute a major transportation improvement program.

A key task was organizing and updating CIV records. To provide the CIV with up-to-date information on national and local routes, Berger inventoried the nation's 24,000-kilometer bridge and highway network using an innovative combination of GPS data, automated zed key inventory procedures and video filming. The Team also collected detailed field data on the route dimensions, roadway width and drainage conditions. Once the physical information was collected, Berger experts added audio commentary describing the location and condition of the roads, existing road markings and recommendations for maintenance work and upgrades. The Team then developed a comprehensive database ranking the quality of each route based on the average driving speed, comfort, local topography, the type of wearing surface and the degree of deterioration. The new infrastructure management system helped to identify priority upgrades and assist in the management of the land transportation network.

Guatemala has a number of unregistered and unpaved roads built by local communities. During the nationwide road survey, specialists noted that more than one-third of the highways surveyed were not numbered. To reduce confusion and accurately identify these routes, Berger classified and numbered each highway section based on its location, route characteristics and width.

The development of the inventory along with the creation of new maps and comprehensive GPS information has increased CIV's ability to evaluate and upgrade highways by providing clear and consistent standards for data collection and storage and reducing the amount of time engineers must spend gathering and evaluating information. The videos provide a practical cross-check of highway evaluations and help train new evaluators. The database is also helping transportation officials to identify potential areas of risk and implement preventive measures or suggest alternative routes. In addition to the technical advantages of this system, the database will assist planners in increasing access to previously isolated communities.

Berger also worked with ministry staff to create a similar inventory for the nation's bridges. Before the start of the project, Guatemala's bridge management systems were implemented by several different agencies, each using independent databases and evaluation processes. To create a centralized bridge management system, the Team reviewed and evaluated the existing systems then prepared an inventory, incorporating GPS coordinates, condition, average yearly maintenance costs, anticipated use and surrounding features for 840 bridges.

Using the information from this database to identify upgrades, Berger managed $155 million in loans from the InterAmerican Development Bank to rehabilitate more than 600 kilometers of regional and rural routes, study and design 750 kilometers of improved roads and maintain more than 3,000 kilometers of primary and feeder roads.

The program also focused on improving urban transportation in Guatemala City, the nation's primary transportation hub and home to over 2.5 million people. Berger specialists analyzed the feasibility of establishing a light rail transit system (LRT) and prepared traffic studies and demand forecasts to analyze its viability. Using sophisticated urban transport models, the Team compared the anticipated LRT costs with expanding existing highway routes and bus services and recommended the development of a new public LRT system to meet Guatemala City's future transportation needs.

To strengthen the CIV, Berger assisted in decentralizing the Directorate General of Roads into 12 smaller units, each responsible for an individual region's transportation and conducted seminars on negotiating and managing loans, evaluating technical and economic feasibility studies, preparing social and environmental impact statements and evaluating tender documents and contracts. Throughout these sessions, Berger specialists introduced and trained department employees in the most recent CAD and IT technologies. The Berger team also organized an international conference on road infrastructure for government officials and private consultants.

Linking Lima and Callao, Peru
Since 1537, Callao has served as the port for Lima, Peru. Separated by just 14 kilometers, the transit corridor joining the two cities serves a thriving urban population, as well as the University of San Marcos, the oldest university in the Americas. Since colonial times, a number of links have been built between these two cities and currently, four distinct routes, each maintained by separate municipalities, serve Lima and Callao. The Berger Group was selected by CTAR Callao to prepare plans and design improvements to this 500-year-old corridor. One of the main goals was to reduce congestion and provide a unified approach to corridor management. The project also included funds for the improvement of several intersections and secondary roads within the city of Lima.

Using state-of-the-art GIS technology and EMME/2 traffic models, Berger defined and mapped the existing corridor, established current demand and identified areas with heavy congestion or high accident rates. While demand modeling and traffic studies were ongoing, Berger specialists reorganized the roadways that comprise Lima-Callao corridor. Before the start of the project, the roads were under different administrative areas with independent operating and maintenance plans. The Team established uniform requirements, including lane widths, number of lanes and usage. Berger specialists then created a comprehensive development plan, including the coordination of ongoing and scheduled upgrades within the corridor and the improvement of the entry and exit roadways in Callao. To ensure an efficient flow through the corridor, Berger experts prepared a traffic management plan and developed a state-of-the-art system to monitor traffic. To finance these improvements Berger analyzed short-, medium- and long-term road investment needs and developed several funding strategies.

Structuring Brazil's Transportation Policy
Since the 1950s, Brazil's transportation planners have given priority to opening the many remote areas of this vast nation. During the past 40 years, the Berger Group has participated in a number of major initiatives, including the Trans-Amazon Highway, the Rio-Sao Paulo Highway-Brazil's first major expressway, as well as the first nationwide transportation study.

As part of a recent World Bank initiative, Berger is assisting the Agencia Goiana de Transportes e Obras in the evaluation of freight movement in the state of Goias. The 341,289 square kilometer state is located in the center of Brazil and is home to Brasilia, the capital city. Because of its location in the heart of Brazil, road transportation between Goias and the coast is exceedingly costly. A recent World Bank study concluded that logistical costs account for 20 percent of the gross domestic product, more than twice that of other nations.

To identify the most cost-effective modes of transportation, Berger experts evaluated freight movements by competing transport modes. The Team found that the state of Goias relies heavily on the road network, with few goods shipped by rail or water. To better evaluate the relative costs of alternative modes, Team members developed a state-of-the-art multimodal freight model to be used by teams of Brazilian economists and transportation planners to gather and record data on cargo movements. Once the data is collected, Berger specialists will define and evaluate the alternative policies and investments and present a plan to improve multimodal freight and reduce costs. Berger experts will then develop a database containing information on different freight types, origin and destination and transport costs, as well as the extent of the network, link capacities, travel times and transfer times at intermodal terminals. The Team will also recommend programs for strengthening state management in the transportation sector, reducing individual modal costs, enhancing modal competitiveness and updating Goias's transportation development plan.