Improved road design standards across the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) countries is the goal of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) project being implemented by the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST), and the International Road Federation (IRF).
Funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF), the project focuses on three pilot countries – Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – from within the CAREC region. Commencing in March 2024 , the 18-month project will take a collaborative approach to meticulously review, update, and improve local road design standards.
Targets & Objectives
Building safer and more inclusive roads are key to achieving global targets to reduce road casualties by 50% by 2030. Safe road infrastructure is an essential component of the Safe System approach and improving design standards are highlighted as a priority by both the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030) and the CAREC Regional Road Safety Strategy (2017-2030).
Working in partnership with multilateral development banks and the relevant government entities of each pilot country, the project will review the national (GOST-SNiP) design standards and recommend updates that include aspects of safe road design within the national standards – working towards the development of a new regional standard that aligns with the Global Road Safety Targets and international best practices for safe road design.
Expected Outcomes
By including a focus on pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable road users, the project aims to achieve:
- Safer regional design standards;
- Improved accessibility and inclusivity, promoting sustainable cities, low-carbon transport solutions, and good health and well-being;
- Increased capacity of road designers across the three countries.
National Road Safety Stakeholder Meetings
The first step of the project involved organising National Road Safety Stakeholder Meetings in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in March 2024 to introduce the project and explore local needs in terms of road design and mobility.
Steering Committee and Working Groups
Representation from the following stakeholders is anticipated:
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as the Participating United Nations Organisation (PUNO).
- Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST).
- International Road Federation (IRF).
- International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).
- Government Ministries from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the CAREC Secretariat.
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
- European Investment Bank (EIB).
Project Partners
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