Introduction of the next Strategic Plan 2008-2011 and new logo for the World Road Association

Presentation of the 2008-2011 PIARC Strategic Plan

  • Colin Jordan, President of PIARC
  • Ginny Clarke, Chair of the Strategic Planning Commission
  • Jean-François Corté, Secretary General of PIARC
  • Dominique Rousset, journalist.

C JORDAN

Ladies and gentlemen,

What we have heard and seen this week, summed up so eloquently just now by my colleague, Patrice Parisé, has demonstrated that the World Road Association (PIARC) is a vibrant and contemporary organisation. Whilst valuing its history, the Association is constantly striving to address the issues of today and to raise consciousness of newly emerging issues in the roads and road transport sector. In order to do this and remain relevant in today's rapidly changing world, an organisation such as PIARC needs two essential elements:

Firstly, it needs a dynamic and proactive technical work program of substance, such as we have seen this week, carefully targeted to the needs of its members; and it needs that work program to be constantly updated as members' needs change and new issues emerge.

To ensure that this happens effectively, PIARC has an ongoing, highly consultative strategic planning process. In a few moments, we are going to conclude this great Congress with a look at the new Strategic Plan for PIARC's next four year cycle, and I hope you will agree that it is a plan to address both the current and emerging needs of all PIARC's 110 member countries, from the least developed and least motorised to the most developed and most motorised.

The second essential element of a vibrant and contemporary organisation is a contemporary image that reflects and promotes who we are and what we do, that is attractive and respected, and that facilitates the all-important dissemination of results of the technical work program. Conscious of this, the Communications Commission, under the leadership of my colleague Claude van Rooten, has developed a Communications Plan for PIARC, including the modernising and standardising of its technical report formats and raising its profile amongst member countries and other relevant international organisations.

A key factor in raising the profile of PIARC has been the development of a new logo that was approved by the Council at its annual meeting here in Paris last Saturday, for use by the Association from the commencement of 2008. I hope you will agree with the members of Council that it effectively expresses the nature of the World Road Association, whilst retaining links to its origins, and that it is modern, dynamic, instantly recognisable and engaging.

I commend it to you and now have much pleasure in unveiling the World Road Association's new logo ...

With PIARC's new more contemporary image symbolised by this new logo, it is timely also to unveil the main elements of its new Strategic Plan for 2008 to 2011. To do this, I will hand over to my colleague, Ginny Clarke, Chair of the Strategic Planning Commission, and the Secretary General, Jean-Francois Corté, under the guiding hand of our presenter/master of ceremonies.

JF Corté

Jean-françois Corté

D. ROUSSET

Could you both explain to us the reasons and the main lines of this Strategic Plan?

JF.CORTÉ

This is the fourth Strategic plan - the first was launched at the 1995 Congress in Montreal. Since then, the activities of our Association, PIARC, have been organised within the framework of the Strategic Plan.

This one - like those before it - is the result of extensive consultation with First Delegates of the PIARC member countries and Technical Committees.
Finalization will follow this Congress with the integration of the outcome of the different sessions.

From the many lively discussions which took place during these last days, there is obviously a significant demand to study, co-operate and share knowledge between the different stakeholders throughout the world.

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D. ROUSSET

Could you tell us more about the plan?

G.CLARKE

The Plan reflects the priority issues facing members, primarily road authorities, but also the wider road transport industry. I will describe these key issues to you in a moment.

I think it is particularly important that we continue to give priority to the needs of developing countries/ economies in transition, so there will be some changes to the role of the Technological Exchange & Development Commission to strengthen their position.

Technical Committees will continue to play a role in responding to needs of developing countries, and we would like to see a lively and plentiful schedule of seminars and workshops, as they have proved so successful in the past.

D. ROUSSET

What are the strategic themes of this plan?

G.CLARKE

This Strategic Plan will continue with a similar format to the previous one, as this has worked so successfully. There will be four Strategic Themes managing 17 Technical Committees. You will see some important changes, representing how the agenda has changed over the last four years, but also a strong element of continuation within issues such as safety and asset management which continue to be core to our business.

Draft structure of the PIARC 2008-2011 Strategic Plan

Strategic Theme A - Sustainability of the road transport system

  • Sustainable Environment
  • Financing, Managing and Contracting of Road System Investment
  • Road System Economics and Social Development
  • Rural Road Systems and Accessibility to Rural Areas

Strategic Theme B - Improving provision of services

  • Good Governance of Road Administrations
  • Road Network Operations
  • Improved Mobility in Urban Areas
  • Freight Transport and Inter Modality
  • Winter Operation

Strategic Theme C - Safety of the road system

  • Safer Road Infrastructure
  • Safer Road Operation
  • Managing Operational Risk in National and International Road Operations
  • Road Tunnel Operations

Strategic Theme D - Quality of road infrastructures

  • Management of Road Infrastructure Assets
  • Road Pavement
  • Road Bridges
  • Geotechnics and Unpaved Roads
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D. ROUSSET

We have 4 themes for this strategic plan that we'll develop with both of you: first of all, the sustainability of the road transport system, then the improving provision of services, the third one will be about the safety of the road system, and we will finish up with the quality of road infrastructures... Jean-François Corté what can you tell about this first theme?

JF.CORTÉ

Strategic Theme A brings together the economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainability.

The increasing need for socio-economic development through the provision, quality and management of road infrastructure against increasing pressure on budgets has led to the development of Public Private Partnerships and other innovative ways to finance road development. This strategic theme will examine not only forms of contract but how such contracts are operated and managed.

As we heard on Monday, road pricing is still a hot political topic but as we are closer to more widespread adoption of these schemes, it is time to consider how we mitigate against the impact of changing weather patterns, reduce our energy consumption and look at alternatives to fossil fuels for powering road networks.

There is a continuing need to look at the direct impact of roads on the environment (air quality, protecting wildlife, etc). But over the last four years, climate change has become an increasing concern. Within PIARC, we will bring together our collective experiences and plans for on the one hand limiting impacts and on the other hand adapting the networks.

Accessibility to rural areas is important in bringing social and economic benefits of development to all parts of the community and regarding poverty alleviation. There is a need to benchmark how local communities can actually be involved in the different aspects: planning, financing, construction and maintenance to create ownership and reach sustainable maintenance of these road assets.

D. ROUSSET

Let's go with the second Theme. Ginny, what is it about?

G. Clarke

Ginny Clarke

G. CLARKE

This Strategic Theme takes the view of road transport as a service provided to the community, reflecting the shift of emphasis in many countries where road authorities are becoming operators or service providers, rather than simply providers of infrastructure.

Stewardship and governance remain important issues for members. But we also need to safeguard the future by ensuring we identify the mix of skills we will need to develop and thinking about how to attract young people into the profession.

D. ROUSSET

What about the use of road space?

G. CLARKE

Making the best use of road space - especially in congested areas - through use of technology continues to be a priority, and there is work the Association can do to complement other Intelligent Transport System for road authorities.

Our cities continue to grow in size and often density. As road authorities we need to understand the demand from city dwellers in terms of their transport choices, and how we can work with city planners to effectively provide for transport solutions.

Looking at the developing global economy demands more efficient freight networks, and this continues to be an important issue for members, particularly with regard to managing risk and influencing freight operators.

The Winter Maintenance committee has been re-named Winter Operations to reflect this emphasis on service provision. Its main focus this cycle will be information, including communicating with road users.

D. ROUSSET

The 3rd theme is dealing with safety road, can you explain us the reason of such a topic?

Ginny Clarke, Jean-François Corté

Ginny Clarke, Jean-François Corté

JF.CORTÉ

Unfortunately, road accidents are still one of the biggest killers worldwide. Much progress has been made; however, rising traffic levels mean that traffic control, management and human factors are increasingly important.

To underline the priority which the Association gives to safety, and to reflect the wider range of approaches to improving safety, we have decided to create two Technical Committees concerned with safety - one concerned with safe infrastructure and the other examining successful safety plans and campaigns.

The international focus on security will be represented in Managing Operational Risk in National and International Road Operations. The committee will be charged with examining responses to natural as well as man-made disasters, and looking at the human perception of risk.

The Road Tunnel Operations committee is also included in this Strategic Theme as the core aim behind its work is to create safer tunnels.

D. ROUSSET

Let's consider now the fourth and last strategic theme which is dealing with quality and management of road infrastructure.

G. CLARKE

This has always been a strong area for the Association and is still at the heart of our business, so we have decided to continue with this theme.

Technical Committees for Pavements, Structures, Geotechnics and Unpaved Roads are continued, though we have decided to include all pavement-related work in one committee, to encourage synergy.

These committees will be concerned with innovative maintenance and assessment techniques, cheaper construction and the technical aspects of environmental considerations such as noise mitigation and use of local materials.

The study of management of infrastructure assets continues and will consider best practice in asset management systems, collection of data and how they can be used to get the most from maintenance budgets.

D. ROUSSET

This will be the strategic plan for the 2008-2011 period. JF Corté can you give some more details?

JF.CORTÉ

Implementation will start at the beginning of 2008 with the establishment of new Technical Committees which will have their kick-off meetings in April 2008 and this will lead us to the next World Road Congress in 2011.

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