ORGANISING AND FINANCING PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN BUDAPEST

Hungary is moving from highly centralised state control of transport planning to a more decentralised market-led approach. Budapest is struggling with a rapid increase in motor vehicle traffic, which causes congestion, accidents, air pollution, and other problems. The share of public transport in journeys there has fallen from 82% in the 1980s to 60% today, as a result of social and economic changes. Severe budget restraints must be faced in the near future, to service the huge debts inherited from the previous Communist regime. Innovative solutions are being sought to adapting Budapest's public transport system to changing public demand. The main features of the existing public transport system are examined, and several statistical tables and charts are included. Key problems include low travel speed on some main lines, poor interchange facilities, unreliable services (except for underground lines), crowded vehicles, and inadequate passenger information. The city's transport development policy is reviewed, and its transport operators are evaluated. The structure and use of financial sources are described. The main issues in restructuring the organisation and financial systems are summarised. Some necessary steps for creating a coordinated regional public transport system are presented. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 893662.