Ministry of Transport issues "Evaluation Index System for Building Strength in China’s Transportation System”

Recently, the Ministry of Transport issued the "Evaluation Index System for Building Strength in China's Transportation System" (referred to as "Index System") to better play the role of the "ruler" and "conducting baton" of the index system, scientifically guide the high-quality development of transportation and accelerate the built up of strength in the country's transportation system.

The Index System is set according to one national comprehensive index, five industry indexes and 31 provincial indexes. The national comprehensive index focus on comprehensive transport and international comparison, scientifically position China's transport development level, and guide the setting of indexes at industry and provincial levels; industry indexes such as railway, highway, water transport, civil aviation and postal service fully reflect the characteristics of the industry; provincial indexes include both "common indexes" to evaluate the provincial level of development and make horizontal comparisons, and "individual indexes" to reflect the differentiated characteristics of the provinces. At the same time, key regions and central cities with conditions are encouraged to study the establishment of regional indexes and municipal-level indexes respectively.

The indexes were selected based on 5 principles:

--Leading. To meet the growing needs of the people for a better life, to implement the requirements of common prosperity, to meet the key tasks to build strength in the country’s transportation system, to give full play to the index system to accelerate the built up of strength in the transportation system "ruler" and "conducting baton" role.

--Representativeness. Insist on the combination of problem-oriented and goal-oriented, focus on the main problems and shortcomings of transport development, target the strong transportation development of the country, and select the typical indexes that are really affecting the whole system.

--Comparability. The indexes will be benchmarked against the international advanced level, focus on the common needs of the building of strength in the country’s transportation system, be based on the actual development of different industries and regions, facilitate horizontal and vertical comparison and analysis, and be selected for easy comparison.

--Accessibility. On the basis of the existing statistical methods, try to use data that are desirable, easy to obtain and simple to calculate, and make full use of new technologies, methods and means to obtain data.

--Timeliness. According to the new situation and new requirements, combined with the process of building a strong transportation system for the country, the index system will be regularly evaluated and adjusted and improved as appropriate, so as to better adapt to the needs of accelerating the building of a strength in the country’s transportation.

The National Integrated Indexes set 20 evaluation indexes based on the five basic characteristics of "safety, convenience, efficiency, green and economical".

（i） Safety.

"Safety" is the eternal theme of transportation development and an important prerequisite for stable economic and social development. The index focuses 3 evaluation dimensions of life safety, emergency security, independent and controllable and set the 4 following indexes.

1. Transport safety. This index reflects the implementation of integrated development and safety requirements, mainly reflecting the construction of transport infrastructure, transport services, transport tools and equipment, and other safe operation capacity and the quality of key positions in the industry safety.

2. Transport system resilience. This index reflects the stability and reliability of the transport system, mainly reflecting the capacity to easily replace and repair, as well as the anti-destruction capacity of comprehensive transport corridors, passenger and freight hubs, key sections of construction project, important ports and waterways and other transport infrastructure in major emergencies.

3. Emergency response level. This index reflects the rapid response capability after the occurrence of major emergencies, mainly in the timely activation of emergency response, rapid implementation of emergency rescue, transport security, effective reduction and mitigation of the impact of emergencies.

4. Level of transportation facilities and equipment. This index reflects the technical level of transport facilities and equipment, mainly reflecting the advanced degree of core technology and independent controllability of China's transport facilities, equipment and products.

（ii） Convenience.

"Convenience" is a requirement for the capacity and quality of transport supply, improving the accessibility of transport infrastructure, facilitating people's travel, focusing on the fairness of transport services, and enhancing people's sense of access. The focus is on setting 5 indexes in 2 evaluation dimensions, namely extensive coverage and fast and smooth transportation.

5. Level of transport infrastructure coverage and connectivity. This index reflects the spatial layout and connectivity of transport infrastructure and transport services, and mainly reflects the level of access and coverage of transport networks at all levels and modes.

6. Level of international connectivity and globalization. This index reflects the degree of transport connectivity between China and other countries and the protection level of transportation for industrial chains and supply chains, mainly reflecting the coverage capacity of China's external transport services and international logistics supply chain service protection capacity.

7. Level of accessibility of transport infrastructure. This index reflects the accessibility and regular use of transport infrastructure to serve special groups such as the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women and children, mainly reflecting the degree of convenience and service level of special groups, meeting the transport needs of an ageing society, and improving the level of humanization and refinement of transport services.

8. The coverage rate of the national "1-2-3" travel traffic circle. This index reflects the 1-hour commute in metropolitan areas, 2-hour access in urban clusters and 3-hour coverage in major cities nationwide.

9. Global "1-2-3" express freight traffic coverage rate. This index reflects the coverage of express cargo with 1-day domestic delivery, 2-day delivery in neighboring countries and 3-day delivery in major cities around the world.

（iii） High efficiency.

"Efficient" is a requirement for the efficiency of transport supply, making full use of the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence and other advanced technological means to improve the efficiency of transport infrastructure utilization, efficiency of connection and conversion, efficiency of operation and management and the smooth operation of transport networks, giving full play to the comparative advantages and combined efficiency of various modes of transport. The focus is on setting five indexes from three evaluation dimensions: efficient utilisation, integrated coordination and intelligent innovation.

10. Utilisation rate of transport facilities. This index reflects the level of smooth operation of the transport network, mainly reflects the proportion of operation speed that falls in normal level, as well as the match level of the facility capacity and demand.

11. Level of smooth operation of the transport network. This index reflects the smoothness of the operation of the transportation network, mainly reflecting the proportion of reasonable operating speed range, the matching of facility capacity and demand.

12. Level of intermodal passenger transport. This index reflects the level of integrated passenger travel services, mainly reflecting the quality service capability of the entire transport chain.

13. Level of multimodal transport of goods. This index reflects the efficiency and development level of integrated loading, connection and transfer of goods through two or more modes of transport.

14. Intelligent level of comprehensive transportation. This index reflects the level of intelligence of transport infrastructure, transport equipment, transport services and transport management, as well as the degree of development of the intelligence of the system.

（iv） Green.

"Green" is to meet people's needs for a beautiful ecological environment, promote the formation of green transportation development, improve the level of resource efficiency and conservation, and promote the harmonious coexistence of transport and nature. The focus is on setting three indexes from two evaluation dimensions: ecological and environmental protection, and intensive and economical.

15. The level of major air pollutant emissions and carbon emissions from transport vehicles. This index reflects the reduction of air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions generated by transport vehicles, and reflects the effect of emission reduction.

16. Level of coordinated development of transport and environment. This index reflects the level of green development of transport and the efficiency of comprehensive energy use, focusing on the level of green travel in cities and the promotion and application of new energy carriers.

17. Level of spatial resource intensification of transport infrastructure. This index reflects the intensive and economical use of land, shorelines, lines and other spatial resources of the country by comprehensive transportation and various modes of transport.

（v） Economical.

"Economical" is a requirement for the input-output ratio of transport, reflecting that users can enjoy high-quality, cost-effective transport services at affordable prices, and fully adapt to and support economic and social development. Three indexes are set from two evaluation dimensions: economic adaptation and strong support.

18. Affordability of transport expenditure. This index reflects the people's affordability of transport time and expenditure costs, as well as the financial sustainability of transport infrastructure construction, the affordability of whole life cycle costs, and the ability to effectively prevent debt risks.

19. Contribution rate of transport to economic growth. This index reflects the full extent of the transport industry's contribution to GDP growth, including direct contributions and indirect contributions through the promotion of consumption and the growth of related industries.

20. Level of economic development of corridors and hubs. This index reflects the level of economic development led by the construction of transport corridors and transport hubs, reflecting the role of gathering and driving passenger, logistics, capital and information flows, as well as the ability to promote the circulation of economic factors and the coordinated development of transport and the surrounding economy.

The Index System specifies the implementation requirements in three areas: strengthening organisational leadership, improving system construction and implementing regular evaluation. The State Railway Administration, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the State Post Bureau will combine their own characteristics and propose indexes that are in line with the actual situation of the industry; the provincial transport authorities will speed up the development of provincial indexes from the actual situation of the region and actively introduce third-party assessment to ensure that the index system is implemented as soon as possible. In addition, according to the new situation and new requirements, the index system will be regularly evaluated and adjusted and improved as appropriate.

Source: <https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/KxiIUpCDTKs7myoeYrYj8A>

Edited and Translated by Junyi Fan