A new, comprehensive knowledge resource centre on COVID-19 and Transport was launched yesterday by the International Road Federation (IRF)  thanks to a grant from the COVID-19 Response & Recovery Transport Research Fund (2020) managed by the High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme (HVT). The new repository is hosted in the Global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP) portal and has as objective to fast-track access – especially for low-income countries – to knowledge, experience, learning resources and good practices on COVID-19 & Transport.

“While addressing the emergency that COVID-19 has created, this transformation of the gTKP portal will also allow to support efforts for a transformative transport agenda post-COVID by ensuring that access to knowledge created within other relevant programmes and initiatives (ReCAP, HVT and UNRSC) is made effectively accessible and used to inform decisions that will shape the recovery” said Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General, while presenting the repository at a dedicated webinar hosted by IRF yesterday, 4^th March.

“COVID-19 has exposed many critical areas of required research such as transport-related emission and clean air modelling, infection control on transport systems, transport demand post-Covid-19,  food security and resilience of transport systems etc.  This is an opportunity to work even closer together as a global network with a common vision of enabling sustainable mobility for all” commented Bernard Obika, High Volume Transport Team Leader.

The gTKP portal features a wealth of case studies, research papers, publications, reports, presentations and more, all organised around 5 key sections: COVID-19, High Volume Transport, Road Safety, Rural Roads, gTKP archives. It functions as a free on-line library and a gate to access other relevant knowledge repositories and resources. Users and other organisations are actively encouraged to enhance both the dynamism and interactivity of the portal by contributing their own knowledge and experience in the form of new reports, articles, case studies, research papers, publications, and more.

“While we move forward in this journey, we welcome ongoing comments and suggestions as to how we can continue to improve the content and outreach of the portal to meet evolving needs. More than this, we welcome the opportunity to work with many other organisations in the transport sector and beyond to make gTKP a joint effort and a shared platform” continued IRF Director General. “Sharing knowledge is key to progress in the transport sector. Together we can build a service that makes a decisive contribution to the achievement of this vital global objective » she concluded.

The COVID-19 repository is accessible on the Global Transport Knowledge Partnership website.