Institutional Labyrinth: Beyond Establishing Lead Urban Transport Institutions

The regulation and the management of urban transport services are often fragmented across multiple institutions. The need for a lead institution to take comprehensive responsibility for urban transport is well recognized. However, attempts in some developing countries to establish effective institutions have not proved successful. This paper seeks to highlight the causes of this lack of success in two cities—Metropolitan Manila, Philippines, and Dakar, Senegal—across two continents. The paper argues that several challenges, even beyond establishing the institutions themselves, need to be addressed if these institutions are to prove effective. Inadequate definition of their role and overlap of responsibilities with other agencies, coupled with inadequate power over financial resources, can render them ineffective.