About Us

Transport challenges in developed countries often reflect “an embarrassment of riches”--too many cars; too many people driving too far and too often; unsustainable land-use patterns with mostly individual homes at low densities separated from work, shopping, education and other activities--all leading to too much global and local pollution, accidents and fatalities. At the same time, a substantial population in wealthier countries does not have the advantages of automobility or even public transport because of poverty, disability, age, etc.

In developing countries, the lack of access to safe and efficient transport of any kind is a fundamental issue for many if not most people. Given the lack of affordable, accessible motorized transport not just private but public as well, makes congestion important but not the only critical issue for the poor majority.

In most rural and even urban settings in developing countries, walking is the major transport mode for people and for moving goods. Separate non-motorized transport (pedestrian, bike) facilities, e.g., sidewalks, are rare, discontinuous, poorly maintained and often encroached upon by hawkers. Residential streets are usually unlit, unpatrolled and unpaved, while arterial roadway coverage is sparse and pavements in poor condition.

Public transport, unaffordable by a significant proportion of the population, is usually provided by the “informal” sector. Operators are usually un- or under-regulated private entrepreneurs competing for customers on the street, leading to accidents, violence and undue congestion.

Government transport activities are too often managed by general purpose “public works” institutions with a decidedly civil engineering/hardware focus. There is little emphasis on management, operations and safety. There are few government entities with public and non-motorized transport planning, implementation and management responsibilities and expertise. The traffic police are inordinately focused on the movement of vehicles with little attention to other important operations functions.

In short, the lack of good, clean and affordable transportation is an impediment to social and economic development in developing countries, particularly for vulnerable populations. This defines UME40’s mission, to support transportation policy development, planning, implementation, operations and management and safety and build professional capacity in low-income countries Worldwide. In pursuit of this Mission, the Committee draws upon the experience and expertise of the U.S. and other developed nations in the following critical areas:

• Institutions and governance

• Human resource development

• Funding and financing for capital projects, operations and maintenance;

• Social and economic equity and development

• Sustainability in all dimensions

• Travel demand

• User costs and ways to meet them

• Multi-modal system costs, capacity, condition and performance

• The unique mobility and access needs of vulnerable populations

• Identify and set priorities for critical research relevant to developing country transportation

• Provide a platform for development and dissemination of research products - innovative solutions and methods for identifying, planning, implementing, operating and managing transport in developing countries

• Sponsor, lead and/or participate in forums, e.g., conferences, webinars, workshops…, for collaboration and information interchange and help set collective priorities and responsibilities

• Provide opportunities for networking and communications among developing and developed country professionals and policy and investment decision makers

• Coordinate and collaborate with other TRB members and other relevant national and multi-national organizations and institutions throughout the World

In 2022, we restructured our two subcommittees to better reflect emerging areas of research and policy dialogue.

AME40(1) is now the "Roadway System Management, Operations, Safety, and Resilience Subcommittee" subsuming and expanding on the mission of the previous subcommittee on "Traffic Safety and Traffic Management"

AME40(2) is now the "Sustianable and Equitable Access and Mobiltiy for All Subcommittee" subsuming and expanding on the mission of the previous subcommittee on "Public Transit, BRT, and Innovation"