Urban Mobility in Haiti: A Diagnostic
Security Theme
State Stability and Infrastructure
Keywords
Critical Infrastructure, Transportation, urban mobility challenges, public transport, walking
Description
Cities can drive development through economies of scale, but recent urbanization in Haiti has not been followed by economic growth. To fulfill their roles as engines of national economic development, cities—especially primary cities—must function as aggregators of labor markets and deliver on providing the economies of scale that can boost economic growth. In Haiti, Port-au-Prince is not playing this function particularly well. Spatial fragmentation is limiting access to opportunities, a situation worsened by challenges in the urban transport systems in both Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien. In particular, the Port-au-Prince CBD, which was greatly damaged in the 2010 earthquake, has become more a barrier than a connection inhibiting linkages between parts of the city, metropolis, and even country.
Urban Mobility in Haiti: A Diagnostic
Cities can drive development through economies of scale, but recent urbanization in Haiti has not been followed by economic growth. To fulfill their roles as engines of national economic development, cities—especially primary cities—must function as aggregators of labor markets and deliver on providing the economies of scale that can boost economic growth. In Haiti, Port-au-Prince is not playing this function particularly well. Spatial fragmentation is limiting access to opportunities, a situation worsened by challenges in the urban transport systems in both Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien. In particular, the Port-au-Prince CBD, which was greatly damaged in the 2010 earthquake, has become more a barrier than a connection inhibiting linkages between parts of the city, metropolis, and even country.