Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority released a report that stated that vehicles stuck in traffic potentially cost Kenya almost $1 billion a year in lost productivity. Nairobi has been ranked as the fourth most congested city in the world.
According to the report, the average travel time in the city is about 57 minutes. This is attributed to the lack of a scheduled public transport system and a lack of an elaborate non-motorized transport network.
This leads people to use personal vehicles over short distances while they could have used alternative modes such as walking, cycling, and public transport.
Other causes of Nairobi’s congestion and traffic jam is double parking, illegal bus stages, and personal cars being used as public service vehicles.
Recently, the Nairobi County Government banned boda boda riders from operating within the city’s Central Business District. Despite the ban, riders are still operating within the city centre thus risking the lives of many road users and their own. Most motorcycle riders ignore traffic rules thereby endangering road users.
The government set aside KSh 200 billion toward reducing traffic congestion in Nairobi Area. The money was allocated to creating a web of Bus Rapid Transport System, new railway trucks, bypasses and highways. These projects were aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Nairobi by half.
Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority is planning to create exclusive lanes for scheduled commuter transport in order to reduce travel time to and from the Central Business District of Nairobi.
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