Patricia Hu (Chair), Director at the American Bureau of Transportation Statistics, speaking on infrastructure investments

Objective

The workshop is a platform for statisticians and stakeholders to discuss and better understand transport infrastructure investment and maintenance data. The aim is to bring together data providers and users to share their experience with the methodology, interpretation and limitations of transport investment data. The workshop allowed for comparison and discussion of practice and examines the experience with harmonising definitions and methods. In doing so, opportunities for data quality improvement were be identified.

Background

Infrastructure investments are a key determinant of performance in the transport sector. However, the sector lacks standardised definitions and methods for measuring investment – and a fortiori assets. The increasing mix of public and private investors and operators in the transport sector adds to the complexity of measuring investments and outcomes. Transport infrastructure has to be maintained and measurement of maintenance costs and outcomes differs widely across modes and countries. Subsidies complicate measurement further. They provide additional resources but are not necessarily defined as investments. The lack of clear definitions and common practices hinders meaningful analysis and comparison, and this may lead to inaccuracy in decision making.

Martin Clever, ITF, Edouard Chong, ITF, Sangjin Han, ITF, Jari Kauppila, ITF, Patricia Hu, US BTS, Mario Barreto, ITF

Sangdo Kim, Korean Ministry of Infrastructure,  Jari Kauppila, ITF, Andreas Kopp, World Bank,  Mario Barreto, ITF, Patricia Hu, US BTS, Peter Van de Ven, OECD, Timo Valila, EIB, G. Amerini, Eurostat,  Lou Thompson, TG&A

Draft Programme

Download the draft programme here.

List of Participants

Download the list of participants here

Presentations made at the workshop

Welcome and objectives

• Introduction by the Chair

Opening Session

• Data Needs and Existing Gaps in Economic Research.  Timo Välilä, European Investment Bank

Measuring infrastructure investment and maintenance

• National Accounts and Transport Investments.  Peter van de Ven, OECD
• An introduction to the European Commission's TENtec Information System. Helmut Morsi, DG Move, European Commission
• Measuring Transport Infrastructure Investment & Maintenance: The French case. Frédéric BOCCARA, Ministère de l'écologie, du Dévelopment durable, des transports et du logement, France
• Measuring Transportation Investment in the USA: Challenges and Opportunities. Patricia Hu,  Bureau of Transportation Statistics. USA
• Magnitude & Measurement of Investment in Transport Infrastructure. Arvind Kumar, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, India and T.P. Sankar, The Energy and Resources Institute, India

Combining data from public and private entities

• The importance of data in public & private assessments of transport projects. Cristian Gonzalez, International Road Federation
• Railway Regulatory asset bases. Paul McMahon, Office of Rail Regulation. UK.
• The relationship between private and public investment – the airports approach. R. Echevarne, Airports Council International
• A country perspective for compiling investment data from different sources - Sweden. Krister Sandberg, Trafa, Sweden

Harmonisation of international data collections

• Presentation of the International Transport Forum database and data dissemination. Mario Barreto, International Transport Forum
• Data from the Eurostat/ITF/UNECE Common Questionnaire. Giuliano Amerini,  Eurostat
• Eurostat data on government expenditure by function (COFOG). Laurent Freysson,  Eurostat

Matching needs and identifying gaps

• Transport Investment in Asia and the Pacific. Improved data for enhanced analysis to support policy development of sustainable transport.   John Dulac, Asian Development Bank
• Can we better evaluate Assets? Andreas Kopp, World Bank
• Data Needs for Efficient Rail Network Investment Assessment. Makeda JAHANSHAH, Réseau Ferré de France (RFF)

Summary discussions and concluding remarks

• “Information = numbers with a purpose” Lou Thompson, Thompson, Galenson & Associates
• Summary report of the Workshop by the Rapporteur. Lou Thompson, Thompson, Galenson