South Miami Busway gets visited by a transit group from Tanzania
A transit group from Tanzania tours the South Miami-Dade Busway to get ideas for building a similar roadway in its largest city.
Miami Herald Staff Report
The South Miami-Dade Busway is so well-regarded that an African delegation flew thousands of miles to view it to see how they can build a similar system to help relieve traffic congestion on their streets.
A group of transit officials from Tanzania in east Africa toured the South Miami-Dade Busway to get a firsthand look at the popular Miami-Dade bus rapid transit system.
A welcoming committee of Miami-Dade Transit officials shared information with representatives from the DAR Rapid Transit Agency in Tanzania before taking them on a guided tour of the Busway.
The 20-mile stretch of the Busway is the United States' longest bus rapid transit line.
Tanzania's transit agency is planning a similar bus rapid transit system in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city.
With a population of about 3 million and a woefully underdeveloped infrastructure, Dar es Salaam suffers from severe traffic congestion that can take hours to clear.
''It's a very serious problem, which is why we need to think of alternative systems, not only for the economy but for public health to reduce smog from emissions,'' DAR Chief Executive Cosmas P. M. Takule said.
DAR's planned bus rapid transit network calls for a privately operated system of dedicated bus lanes along the city's main arteries to be completed in six phases beginning next year. Since 2000 they have been saying they will begin next year, i wonder how much more expensive it is now, how much money has been wasted by the delays
''Tanzania has very few resources to provide mass transit, but they are struggling with traffic gridlock that is causing extreme economic hardship,'' Commissioner Katy Sorenson said after meeting with the African delegation.
''A system similar to our Busway, where dedicated transit lanes can connect the city's residents to jobs at the port of Dar es Salaam, will be a great improvement in the quality of life there,'' she added.
Miami-Dade Transit Director Harpal Kapoor said his agency was glad to help out the Tanzanians and flattered by the recognition.
''The fact that they wanted to see our system up close is a testament to the world-class reputation our Busway enjoys,'' Kapoor said.
South Miami Busway gets visited by a transit group from Tanzania - South Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com
A transit group from Tanzania tours the South Miami-Dade Busway to get ideas for building a similar roadway in its largest city.
Miami Herald Staff Report
The South Miami-Dade Busway is so well-regarded that an African delegation flew thousands of miles to view it to see how they can build a similar system to help relieve traffic congestion on their streets.
A group of transit officials from Tanzania in east Africa toured the South Miami-Dade Busway to get a firsthand look at the popular Miami-Dade bus rapid transit system.
A welcoming committee of Miami-Dade Transit officials shared information with representatives from the DAR Rapid Transit Agency in Tanzania before taking them on a guided tour of the Busway.
The 20-mile stretch of the Busway is the United States' longest bus rapid transit line.
Tanzania's transit agency is planning a similar bus rapid transit system in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city.
With a population of about 3 million and a woefully underdeveloped infrastructure, Dar es Salaam suffers from severe traffic congestion that can take hours to clear.
''It's a very serious problem, which is why we need to think of alternative systems, not only for the economy but for public health to reduce smog from emissions,'' DAR Chief Executive Cosmas P. M. Takule said.
DAR's planned bus rapid transit network calls for a privately operated system of dedicated bus lanes along the city's main arteries to be completed in six phases beginning next year. Since 2000 they have been saying they will begin next year, i wonder how much more expensive it is now, how much money has been wasted by the delays
''Tanzania has very few resources to provide mass transit, but they are struggling with traffic gridlock that is causing extreme economic hardship,'' Commissioner Katy Sorenson said after meeting with the African delegation.
''A system similar to our Busway, where dedicated transit lanes can connect the city's residents to jobs at the port of Dar es Salaam, will be a great improvement in the quality of life there,'' she added.
Miami-Dade Transit Director Harpal Kapoor said his agency was glad to help out the Tanzanians and flattered by the recognition.
''The fact that they wanted to see our system up close is a testament to the world-class reputation our Busway enjoys,'' Kapoor said.
South Miami Busway gets visited by a transit group from Tanzania - South Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com