Transportation Planning and Implementation in Cities of the Third World: The Case of Bangkok

Abstract

The Bangkok Metropolitan Region is synonymous with unprecedented growth as well as with traffic conditions which rival the worst in the world. The current transportation situation has evolved quickly, yet planners, international donors, and many government leaders were not unaware of the magnitude of the evolving problem. The federal and municipal governments have at their disposal a number of state-of-the-art transportation plans but seem unable to implement the most important of the recommendations. In this paper Bangkok's transportation woes are described in terms of the obstacles that face the agencies charged with implementing improvements. The discussion is focused on institutional issues as well as the political structure responsible for much of the current crisis.