China: Liaoning Green Smart Public Transport Demonstration Project

OBJECTIVE

To improve the quality and efficiency of public transport service and urban environment by replacing conventional fossil-fueled buses with battery electric buses (BEBs) and applying digital technology to public transport management systems in five small and medium cities of Liaoning Province.

DESCRIPTION

The Project will, above all, substitute modern BEBs for existing diesel-fueled or gas-fueled buses in five small and/or medium cities in Liaoning, including Fuxin City, Hu’ludao City, Jinzhou City, Panjin City, and Yingkou City (together Project cities). Also, public transport management systems in the Project cities will be upgraded using smart digitalized platforms. The Project will demonstrate that: (i) BEBs are viable options to zero-emission public transport systems in Liaoning; and (ii) smart public transport management system can enhance the efficiency of public transport, provide better services, and attract more passengers to use public transport in the Project cities.

Key Project activities include:

1. procurement of about 1,285 BEBs.

2. construction of about 286 new bus chargers.

3.installation of smart public transport management systems and supporting software and equipment in the Project cities, which include automated fare collection terminals, automatic vehicle location system, real-time driving assistance and safety systems, passenger information systems, depot management system, and bus stop management system, etc.

4. construction of the Liaodong Bay Intercity Bus Service Center in Panjin.

5. construction of the New Green Bus Maintenance Workshop in Fuxin, and

6. technical support and capacity building to the five bus companies on BEBs and smart public transport technology.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

The Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), including the Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) and the Environmental and Social Exclusion List apply to this Project. ESS 1 (Environmental and Social Assessment and Management) is applicable to the environmental and social aspects of the Project. ESS 2 (Involuntary Resettlement) and ESS 3 (Indigenous Peoples) are not triggered, because (i) all Project activities are conducted on the lands owned by the government or bus companies, and (ii) there are no indigenous peoples in the Project areas.

Environmental aspects. The Project will reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase energy efficiency of public transport. Anticipated impacts will be site-specific and mainly limited to the construction stage for the service center and maintenance workshop and installation of chargers. The environmental impacts will be relating to dust, noise and construction waste. Disposal of replaced diesel-fueled or gas-fueled buses and used batteries will follow domestic policies and administrative regulations. The mitigation measures have been included in the contracts for implementation.

Social aspects. The Project is expected to generate largely positive social benefits to the overall population. The Project area of influence includes the urban areas and some suburbs of Fuxin, Hu’ludao, Jinzhou, Panjin, and Yingkou and covers a wide range of stakeholders including residents across socio-economic categories. The social risks for the Project are envisaged to be minimal.

Existing grievance redress mechanism in each Project city will be used for the Project, with some necessary upgrade and improvements to ensure proper coverage of concerned issues. These GRMs have been reviewed in accordance with the requirement of the Bank’s ESP.

Consultation and Information Disclosure. Consultations have been conducted during ESIA preparation. This will continue during Project implementation, in accordance with national guidelines on restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The English and Chinese versions of ESIA, including executive summaries of the ESIA has been posted on the websites of Liaoning Urban and Rural Construction and Renewal Project Management Company and AIIB, with hard copies made available in the Project sites before construction starts.