Description:
Introduction of Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (DART) in Dar es Salaam metropolitan city, Tanzania, which involves use of exclusive curbed median bus lanes, meant to reduce the congestion problem by reducing travel times reliability and variability. Improved travel time benefits offered by BRT system eventually attract commuters to public transit hence reducing congestion through modal shift from private transportation system. This paper aimed at analyzing the operational impact of the DART system in Dar es Salaam metropolitan city as well as challenges inhibiting efficient operation of the system. The performance of DART system was measured based on ridership, and travel time savings measures, while challenges which the system is facing were also investigated by interviewing various stakeholders.The drivers were interviewed together with the passengers in all routes at different times of the day. Along BRT routes, students either using BRT or other means of transport mode were interviewed concerning their perception towards BRT. With the use of questionnaires, the private car owners riding along the BRT routes were interviewed with the main focus being why they still use private cars instead of BRT. Descriptive analysis was then conducted on the data collected for different groups and exploring their views and opinions to determine the effect of BRT in the city. Findings from this analysis reveal the need for improving the current BRT system and all associated operations to have a better performing transportation system.