Cities across the globe are looking to develop affordable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible transportation solutions that can meet the accessibility needs of expanding metropolitan populations and support future economic and urban development. When appropriately planned and implemented as part of a larger public transportation network, urban rail systems can provide rapid and vital access to city centers from surrounding districts. High-performing urban rail services can help enhance quality of life by giving citizens access to employment opportunities, essential services, urban amenities, and neighboring communities.

The Urban Rail Development Handbook synthesizes and presents knowledge to inform the planning, implementation, and operations of urban rail projects with a view towards:


Emphasizing the need for early studies and project planning
Making projects more sustainable (economically, socially, and environmentally)
Improving socioeconomic returns and access to opportunities for users
Maximizing the value of private participation, where appropriate
Building capacity within project-implementing and -managing institutions.


The Handbook provides experiential advice to tackle the technical, institutional, and financial challenges faced by decision makers considering urban rail projects. It synthesizes international "good practices" and recommendations that are independent of commercial, financial, political, or other interests. Rather than identify a single approach, the Handbook acknowledges the complexities and context necessary when approaching an urban rail development by helping to prepare decision makers to ask the right questions, consider the key issues, perform the necessary studies, apply adequate tools, and learn from international good practice all at the right time in the project development process.