Nairobi retreats on rapid bus transit plan

May 27, 2016
Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya retreats on rapid bus transit plan

Kenya has made a hasty retreat over plans to decongest the city of Nairobi’s infamous traffic jams through a bus rapid transit system barely three weeks after Tanzania launched its Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (Dart).


Photo: On the road , One of Dar-es-Salaam Bus Rapid Transit No. 23 Route Ferry to Kimara. Courtesy Of www.issamichuzi.blogspot.com

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said Friday that the implementation of the proposed special bus transport system has proved difficult due to lack of provisions in the existing road infrastructure to cater for special lanes to be used by the new buses.

“You know in the mass rapid transit system (MRTS) there are two components: the commuter rail and the bus. The bus will be very difficult because we don’t have the lanes for the buses. What will come is the commuter rail because it will use the existing meter gauge rail.

“We have already received proposals from France, United Kingdom, Turkey, Hungary and China who want to operate the rail system. There is a lot of interest in the rail system,” Macharia told reporters in Nairobi.

The construction of a rapid bus transit system was part of Kenya’s proposed mass rapid transport systems (MRTS) meant to reduce traffic congestion in Nairobi and other major cities and to improve the country’s regional competitiveness.

READ: Nairobi plans $4m expansion of urban transport network

It is estimated that traffic congestion in Nairobi city costs the economy $360 million annually.

Nairobi’s population has increased to 3.3 million from 350,000 in 1963 with the number of vehicles estimated at 300,000 without an equivalent increase in the road network.

Construction of the bus rapid transit system was expected to start next year, being the initial phase of the World Bank-funded MRTS project.

The MRTS is part of the National Urban Transport Improvement Project (NUTRIP) to help expand the capacity of Uhuru Highway and to initiate rapid bus transit and commuter rail systems.

World Bank committed to invest $300 million in the project in 2012, in addition to $113 million from the Kenyan government.

READ: World Bank approves $300 million for Kenya’s transport upgrade

The project entailed the building and operation of new rapid bus and rail transport systems to increase the volume and speed of passenger and freight services around the country’s urban areas.

Others included expansion and upgrading of highways, service, and access roads from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport through Nairobi to Rironi on the Northern Corridor transport system, and construction of by-passes in Kisumu in Western Kenya and Meru in the East.

The bus rapid transit system (BRT) was initially expected to have 600 buses using five interconnected lines to ferry commuters to all the key city suburbs.

Source: Kenya retreats on rapid bus transit plan

Wazo nzuri hilo, bora tuwekeze kwenye reli za mjini kuliko hili la mabasi. Treni moja ya mjini ikibeba abiria 1,000 kwa mpigo, hiyo itapunguza pakubwa mzunguko wa magari mjini. Tayari tuna mabasi makubwa yamejaa mjini na imekua kero.

Niliangalia kiwango cha hela zilizotumika kujenga BRT ya Tanzania, nikaona palikua na uwezekano mkubwa wa kujenga reli badala ya kujaza mabasi mjini.

A good idea from the authorities. Many public spaces in Nairobi are poorly designed with the result that expansion is nearly impossible. The same pertains to many African cities, Cairo perhaps being the worst.

That being said, the other side of transportation planning must be addressed viz. land use patterns within the city. Ignore that and all the big roads and bridges and railways soon buckle under the inevitable rise in population over time. In fact, if i were a politician who truly and deeply loves his city, i would eschew popularity and bulldoze large parts of the city to create a new, more livable one. Just like Napoleon III did to Paris or Emperor Nero did to Rome. I believe its better that way because we are damned if we don't and damned if we do.

My 2 cents.

MK254 said:

Wazo nzuri hilo, bora tuwekeze kwenye reli za mjini kuliko hili la mabasi. Treni moja ya mjini ikibeba abiria 1,000 kwa mpigo, hiyo itapunguza pakubwa mzunguko wa magari mjini. Tayari tuna mabasi makubwa yamejaa mjini na imekua kero.

Niliangalia kiwango cha hela zilizotumika kujenga BRT ya Tanzania, nikaona palikua na uwezekano mkubwa wa kujenga reli badala ya kujaza mabasi mjini.

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Kuna vitu vingi sana hauelewi lkn hauko peke yako sisi Waafrika wengi ni wagumu sana kuelewa hasa linapokuja swala linalohitaji critical thinking!

Sababu kubwa hasa ya TZ kuamua kujenga DART badala ya reli kuzunguka Mji mzima ni gharama! Haya mabasi yanachukuwa gharama ndogo kuanzia kuyanunua, kuyaendesha na kuyakarabati hata kujenga Miundo mbinu ni rahisi sana ukilinganisha na Reli!

Unafahamu tungehitaji Reli kiasi gani kutandaza Dar nzima ambako haya Mabasi yanapita? Hiyo reli TZ ingeitoa wapi? Kumbuka TZ hakuna Steel melting plant ina maana kila kitu tungeagiza unafahamu gharama yake?

Huu mradi haujabuniwa na TZ peke yake, bali Benki ya Dunia pia ilihusishwa hivyo ina maana upembuzi yakinifu ulifanywa na waliangalia hayo mambo yote, kwa hali ya kiuchumi tuliyonayo TZ kwa sasa hatuwezi kuendesha commuter rail system, kwa ufanisi haya mabasi ni bora sana na kama tukiyasimamia vizuri foleni kwa Mji wetu itakuwa imepungua kwa zaidi ya 50%!

Hata Nairobi mimi nimefika mara nyingi tu, bado hawawawezi kujenga rail commuter system na kuhudumia sehemu kubwa ya wakazi wa Nairobi, hayo ni maneno tu na hata kama wakijenga bado hawataweza kuisambaza Nairobi nzima na kutumika wa wakazi wa Nairobi wengi kama vile DART yetu ilivyo, tuko hapa tuombee uzima tu na muda utaongea...

Quickly said:

A good idea from the authorities. Many public spaces in Nairobi are poorly designed with the result that expansion is nearly impossible. The same pertains to many African cities, Cairo perhaps being the worst.

That being said, the other side of transportation planning must be addressed viz. land use patterns within the city. Ignore that and all the big roads and bridges and railways soon buckle under the inevitable rise in population over time. In fact, if i were a politician who truly and deeply loves his city, i would eschew popularity and bulldoze large parts of the city to create a new, more livable one. Just like Napoleon III did to Paris or Emperor Nero did to Rome. I believe its better that way because we are damned if we don't and damned if we do.

My 2 cents.

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Bulldozing around the city can't work in our day and age, damn costly. The best option is to decentralize like we are already doing. Build up well managed satellite towns and begin migration to them.

Nairobians are making headway into towns adjacent to the city such as Ongata Rongai, Ruai, Syokimau, Ngong, Kiambu, Ruiru, Isinya and Kiserian.

Barbarosa said:

Kuna vitu vingi sana hauelewi lkn hauko peke yako sisi Waafrika wengi ni wagumu sana kuelewa hasa linapokuja swala linalohitaji critical thinking!

Sababu kubwa hasa ya TZ kuamua kujenga DART badala ya reli kuzunguka Mji mzima ni gharama! Haya mabasi yanachukuwa gharama ndogo kuanzia kuyanunua, kuyaendesha na kuyakarabati hata kujenga Miundo mbinu ni rahisi sana ukilinganisha na Reli!

Unafahamu tungehitaji Reli kiasi gani kutandaza Dar nzima ambako haya Mabasi yanapita? Hiyo reli TZ ingeitoa wapi? Kumbuka TZ hakuna Steel melting plant ina maana kila kitu tungeagiza unafahamu gharama yake?

Huu mradi haujabuniwa na TZ peke yake, bali Benki ya Dunia pia ilihusishwa hivyo ina maana upembuzi yakinifu ulifanywa na waliangalia hayo mambo yote, kwa hali ya kiuchumi tuliyonayo TZ kwa sasa hatuwezi kuendesha commuter rail system, kwa ufanisi haya mabasi ni bora sana na kama tukiyasimamia vizuri foleni kwa Mji wetu itakuwa imepungua kwa zaidi ya 50%!

Hata Nairobi mimi nimefika mara nyingi bado hawawawezi kujenga rail commuter system na kuhudumia sehemu kubwa ya wakazi wa Nairobi, hayo ni maneno tu na hata kama wakijenga bado hawataweza kuisambaza Nairobi nzima na kutumika wa wakazi wa Nairobi wengi kama vile DART yetu ilivyo!

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Ikuingie hata sisi hao Banki ya dunia walihusishwa kwenye kupanga hili la BRT Nairobi, lakini tumeghairi baada ya kupiga mahesabu ya mbali. Shirikisha ubongo kiasi na nje ya hapo ulipo.

Kuna mtaalam wa Tanzania niliona sehemu, sikumbuki jarida lenyewe, aliyekokotoa gharama ya treni ya mjini ukilinganisha na mabasi ya BRT, na ikaingia kwamba ingekua nafuu na kwa manufaa makubwa kujenga treni. Nitalitafuta hilo jarida na kulibandika humu.

MK254 said:

Ikuingie hata sisi hao Banki ya dunia walihusishwa kwenye kupanga hili la BRT Nairobi, lakini tumeghairi baada ya kupiga mahesabu ya mbali. Shirikisha ubongo kiasi na nje ya hapo ulipo.

Kuna mtaalam wa Tanzania niliona sehemu, sikumbuki jarida lenyewe, aliyekokotoa gharama ya treni ya mjini ukilinganisha na mabasi ya BRT, na ikaingia kwamba ingekua nafuu na kwa manufaa makubwa kujenga treni. Nitalitafuta hilo jarida na kulibandika humu.

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Kujiita mtaalamu haimaanishi kwamba yeye ni Mtaaalmu kweli, na isitoshe ukiiosoma hiyo habari iliyowekwa hapa kwenye hilo gazeti sababu ya kusitisha kwa DART Nairobi siyo kwamba haina ubora ukilinganishwa na Reli, hapana bali wamesema sababu ni kwamba hakuna nafasi ya kujenga Miundo mbinu kama ya DART, na hapa mimi nakubaliana nao nimefika Nairobi jinsi Mji ulivyojengwa na br. zake ni tofauti na jinsi br. zinavyojengwa Dar, kwa mfano br. zote za Dar huwa zinaachiwa nafasi kubwa kati kati na huu ni mpango wa muda mrefu na lengo lilikuwa ni hilo hilo kwamba siku moja hiyo nafasi itakuja kutumika lkn Nairobi hakuna mfumo kama huwo, sasa haya mabasi yatapita wapi?

Vilevile usisahau kwamba Dar Miundo mbinu ya treni ipo, hivyo ni swala la kuikarabati tu, treni ya ktk Ubungo -City Center ambayo itaunganisha na DART pia na hivyo kuwa na vyote viwili, vile vile wakazi wa Pugu, Airport kuna Reli huko inawaleta mpka TAZARA ambako wakishuka watapanda DART na kuelekea City center ...

Barbarosa said:

Kuna vitu vingi sana hauelewi lkn hauko peke yako sisi Waafrika wengi ni wagumu sana kuelewa hasa linapokuja swala linalohitaji critical thinking!

Sababu kubwa hasa ya TZ kuamua kujenga DART badala ya reli kuzunguka Mji mzima ni gharama! Haya mabasi yanachukuwa gharama ndogo kuanzia kuyanunua, kuyaendesha na kuyakarabati hata kujenga Miundo mbinu ni rahisi sana ukilinganisha na Reli!

Unafahamu tungehitaji Reli kiasi gani kutandaza Dar nzima ambako haya Mabasi yanapita? Hiyo reli TZ ingeitoa wapi? Kumbuka TZ hakuna Steel melting plant ina maana kila kitu tungeagiza unafahamu gharama yake?

Huu mradi haujabuniwa na TZ peke yake, bali Benki ya Dunia pia ilihusishwa hivyo ina maana upembuzi yakinifu ulifanywa na waliangalia hayo mambo yote, kwa hali ya kiuchumi tuliyonayo TZ kwa sasa hatuwezi kuendesha commuter rail system, kwa ufanisi haya mabasi ni bora sana na kama tukiyasimamia vizuri foleni kwa Mji wetu itakuwa imepungua kwa zaidi ya 50%!

Hata Nairobi mimi nimefika mara nyingi tu, bado hawawawezi kujenga rail commuter system na kuhudumia sehemu kubwa ya wakazi wa Nairobi, hayo ni maneno tu na hata kama wakijenga bado hawataweza kuisambaza Nairobi nzima na kutumika wa wakazi wa Nairobi wengi kama vile DART yetu ilivyo, tuko hapa tuombee uzima tu na muda utaongea...

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How long is DART?

If you see how the world deals with commuter transportation, both train and busses are used,
Europe goes further by using subways, trammers and water ways.
The idea of RBT originally came from Latin America where proved successful.
Technically, it's not advised to use the railroad and normal road to use the same alignment as the risk of accidents occurance become higher, and mechanical mitigation of it means considerable cost.
But only a consolidated physical planning is of utmost important. Meaning that where the railroad ends, the busses, the trammers, subways etc should start.

1 Africa said:

How long is DART?

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Inajengwa kwa awamu (phases) na ziko awamu 6 sasa hivi tuko awamu ya kwanza ( phase 1), na nyingine zinafwatia kama ramani inavyoonyesha hapa chini!

Barbarosa said:

Inajengwa kwa awamu (phases) na ziko awamu 6 sasa hivi tuko awamu ya kwanza ( phase 1), na nyingine zinafwatia kama ramani inavyoonyesha hapa chini!

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It's currently only 21 km and you claim it serves the whole of Dar. How is that possible?

1 Africa said:

It's currently only 21 km and you claim it serves the whole of Dar. How is that possible?

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MK254 said:

Wazo nzuri hilo, bora tuwekeze kwenye reli za mjini kuliko hili la mabasi. Treni moja ya mjini ikibeba abiria 1,000 kwa mpigo, hiyo itapunguza pakubwa mzunguko wa magari mjini. Tayari tuna mabasi makubwa yamejaa mjini na imekua kero.

Niliangalia kiwango cha hela zilizotumika kujenga BRT ya Tanzania, nikaona palikua na uwezekano mkubwa wa kujenga reli badala ya kujaza mabasi mjini.

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Definetly good idea.
But in Tanzania we dont trust our electricity.. If those train in NA will be electricity one.. You guys have to make sure that stima ipo fully time rather watu watalala njiani.

Barbarosa said:

Ni wapi na lini nimesema inahudumia Dar nzima?​

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Sorry,I had not understood what you had said. I thought you were talking about now,kumbe ni in the future.

MK254 said:

Wazo nzuri hilo, bora tuwekeze kwenye reli za mjini kuliko hili la mabasi. Treni moja ya mjini ikibeba abiria 1,000 kwa mpigo, hiyo itapunguza pakubwa mzunguko wa magari mjini. Tayari tuna mabasi makubwa yamejaa mjini na imekua kero.

Niliangalia kiwango cha hela zilizotumika kujenga BRT ya Tanzania, nikaona palikua na uwezekano mkubwa wa kujenga reli badala ya kujaza mabasi mjini.

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MK254 said:

Wazo nzuri hilo, bora tuwekeze kwenye reli za mjini kuliko hili la mabasi. Treni moja ya mjini ikibeba abiria 1,000 kwa mpigo, hiyo itapunguza pakubwa mzunguko wa magari mjini. Tayari tuna mabasi makubwa yamejaa mjini na imekua kero.

Niliangalia kiwango cha hela zilizotumika kujenga BRT ya Tanzania, nikaona palikua na uwezekano mkubwa wa kujenga reli badala ya kujaza mabasi mjini.

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Maintaining a railway company is more expensive than maintaining road service, in order to sustain the running coast an average person will have to spend around Tshs 30,000 on a public transport. We will get there but not yet.

I salute you guys, so far best discussion in Jamii forum, discussion without the stupid rivalry.

Barbarosa said:

Inajengwa kwa awamu (phases) na ziko awamu 6 sasa hivi tuko awamu ya kwanza ( phase 1), na nyingine zinafwatia kama ramani inavyoonyesha hapa chini!

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Nimeipenda hii kama kweli ipo kwa awamu (phases) lakini nina swali hivi kulikuwa na haja gani ya Bagamoyo rd na Kilwa rd kuzijenga ktk kiwango kile ( njia 2/4) wakati kuna mipango mikubwa inakuja huu si upotevu wa pesa ?????? ( maana zile zilizokwishajengwa zitafumuliwa)

MK254 said:

Ikuingie hata sisi hao Banki ya dunia walihusishwa kwenye kupanga hili la BRT Nairobi, lakini tumeghairi baada ya kupiga mahesabu ya mbali. Shirikisha ubongo kiasi na nje ya hapo ulipo.

Kuna mtaalam wa Tanzania niliona sehemu, sikumbuki jarida lenyewe, aliyekokotoa gharama ya treni ya mjini ukilinganisha na mabasi ya BRT, na ikaingia kwamba ingekua nafuu na kwa manufaa makubwa kujenga treni. Nitalitafuta hilo jarida na kulibandika humu.

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We kiumbe unapenda sana kujenga hoja za kitoto ili tu kuleta ubishani usio na mantiki yoyote.
Post imejieleza vizuri kabisa kwamba, kuamua kujenga reli si kwamba mabasi yasingesaidia,nafasi ya kujenga hizo barabara za mabasi ndio imekuwa changamoto.
Hata reli dar zipo lkn tuliamua kuanza na mabasi kwani ndio yameweza kuwafikia wakazi wengi kwa urahisi.

Barbarosa pia naomba uniambie hiyo phase 6 ndio barabara ipi ........ inaanzia wapi na inaishia wapi ???? ( siko vizuri kwenye kusoma ramani)

Barbarosa said:

Inajengwa kwa awamu (phases) na ziko awamu 6 sasa hivi tuko awamu ya kwanza ( phase 1), na nyingine zinafwatia kama ramani inavyoonyesha hapa chini!

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Hongera kwenu maana mnapiga hatua mos mos mtatupita tukicheka ovyo eti mko nyuma.hapa nai jam kero sana.huku mara uk katuahidi commuter rail mara kidero mabasi sijui niyapi humu.ni kuwapa macho tukingoja tuone.