Tanzania - Transport Sector

Licensed datasets, accessible under conditions,

Evaluation questions: This final performance and impact evaluation was designed to answer the following questions: (1) Were transportation costs reduced? How is the road being used, and how has this changed since before the investment?; (2) What is the likelihood that vehicle opera­ting costs (VOC) savings will be passed on to consumers of transportation services? Did runway improvements reduce aircraft operating costs and increase traffic?; (3) What is the likelihood that the roads will be maintained?; and (4) What was the impact of the road improve­ments on incomes in mainland Tanzania and on Pemba Island?

The exposure period was 33 - 80 months after construction. Key findings include the following:

(1) Paving roads led to large increases in travel speeds, and reduc­tions in fuel and vehicle repair costs across all roads, leading to increased traffic volume.

(2) Investing in the national trunk road network greatly facilitated the movement of people and goods across regions and nation­al borders.

(3) Reductions in vehicle operating costs led freight and pas­senger service providers to reduce prices for consumers and increase service provision along the project roads

(4) Paving the runway at the Mafia Island Airport reduced air­craft operating costs, but without any reduction in fares or measurable increase in traffic.

(5) All project roads remain in good condition, but chronic fund­ing shortfalls could undermine needed maintenance over the long-term.

(6) Mainland road improvements facilitated market access and increased economic activity in urban areas connected by the roads. Upgrades may lead to higher economic activity in com­munities near the Pemba Island roads, though these results are not statistically significant.

Independent Ex-Post ERR and HDM-4 Community, households, administrative units; OTHER: road, trip

Other

Community (traffic and vehicle operating cost survey), Administrative (transportation agency key informant interviews), Household (vehicle intercept survey and focus groups)

The project improved trunk and regional roads in the Tanga region (Tanga-Horohoro), the Songwe Region (Tunduma-Sumbawanga), the Mtwara region (Mtwara Corridor), the Mafia Island Airport. The project also improved roads on Pemba Island, in the Tanga region (Tanga-Horohoro), the Songwe Region (Tunduma-Sumbawanga), and the Mtwara region (Mtwara Corridor).