N30bn Ikorodu-Mile 12

 The Lagos State government under the auspices of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) is targeting end of 2014 as completion date for proposed Ikorodu-Mile 12 BRT lane that will see the journey time reduced by 75 percentage (120mins-30mins) along the 13.5 kilometre distance. The World Bank and French Development Agency will be facilitating access to funds for the project.

This piece of information was made known during a presentation to motoring journalists by Olugbenga Dairo, the director of Public Transport, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), in Lagos recently.

The Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT Extension Project has been conceived to extend the BRT service from Mile 12- Ikorodu Town while also improving the Ikorodu Road Network Infrastructure. It is designed to be a median running BRT with bilateral bus station configurations linked to pedestrian bridges for access. The project on completion will extend the BRT network that will be stretched from Ikorodu-CMS to approximately 36km.

When fully completed, the Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT project will have dedicated bus lanes, three interchange terminals, a modern bus depot/garaging facilities and fully enclosed, accessible (to all) bus shelters with step-free, gap-free boarding facilities.

Operators will also make use of off board electronic ticketing system for use in the high capacity modern bus fleet that will be operating at high frequency. There will also be effective monitoring and enforcement of BRT regulations by the authorities that will be in charge in a bid to provide safe and secure transport system.

Olugbenga Dairo explained that the project will make it possible for average public transport waiting time to be reduced from 30mins-10mins (66%), road traffic journey time from 120mins- 50mins (58%) while guarantying reliable and journey time schedule and service availability at affordable fares.

Aware of the peculiar environment in which public transportation operates especially in a megacity like Lagos, the services have been designed in a way that the physically challenged in the society will have easy entry into and exit from the bus, even as there will be a 50 percent reduction in public transport related accidents in addition to an estimated 16 percent reduction in terms of carbon dioxide emission.

Among other features, the BRT corridor will provide for free traffic lanes for other road traffic with multiple u-turning opportunities, graded separated pedestrian crossing facilities. The project, Dairo stated will improve mobility along Ikorodu Road corridor by providing a high quality, low cost, environmentally friendly public transportation system.

Under the arrangement, the following scope of work will be implemented: Provision of additional traffic lanes (13.5km) and walkways on either side of the existing roadway, construction of BRT lanes, rehabilitation

 

MIKE OCHONMA