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It is clear and evident that many cities of the world today have serious problems in
the smooth running of their daily activities due to traffic congestion. The congestions
are the outcome of many factors depending on the level of technological
development and economy of the country concerned, which in a way influence the
rest of other factors. As far as this study is concerned, an attempt has been made to
analyze the social economic impact of road traffic congestion in Dar es Salaam
(DSM) region. The objectives that were selected for the study were to examine the
social-economic impacts of traffic congestion in Dar es Salaam in various
perspectives as well as to identify supporting policies that may need to be put in
place to reduce road traffic congestion. The study revealed that road traffic
congestion affects highly the residents of DSM, institutions and the government as a
whole in various aspects/dimensions.
The researcher observed that, the current public transport system in DSM has
difficulties in coping with the demographic and spatial growth of the city and in
meeting the basic needs of its inhabitants. Access to affordable and quality public
transport services is critical for the urban population, as a lack thereof leads to
economic, social, and physical isolation, especially in low-income communities,
located in the city outskirts, with inadequate access to public transport and other
basic urban facilities.
In response to the public transport challenges in DSM, it was seen that; an urban
development strategy was designed and proposed to introduce a bus rapid transit
(BRT) system for the entire city. BRT system elements will contribute to transit
objectives/ transit system performance, including reducing travel times, improving
reliability, providing identity and a quality image, improving safety and security,
increasing capacity and enhancing accessibility. Therefore, for cities in developing
countries, BRT is recommended. Most importantly, the urban poor may benefit
substantially from the improved accessibility and high-quality service which BRT
will bring forth. |
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