Lagos BRT "Lite": A First for Africa

Lagos BRT-Lite- A First for Africa

Dr D Mobereola

Managing Director LAMATA

GOV. BABATUNDE RAJI FASOLA

Background to Transport in Lagos

• Population of around 17 million people, forecast to grow to 25 million by 2025

• Relatively high car ownership• Low road length per head• Significant congestion problems• Driver indiscipline• Public transport characterised by

– Large fleet of small privately owned buses – Danfo– Poorly maintained, unsafe buses– Run to serve interests of bus owners/operators not travellers– Long, unreliable journeys– Security issues at lorry parks

BRT-Lite what has been achieved?• New BRT system opened in Lagos,

Nigeria, in March 2008• 22km majority segregated route (400mm

kerb, road markings) – bilateral config• 3 terminals (one using underbridge),

26 stops (unique shelter design), depot• $1.7m per km compared to $6m per km

for the well known premium BRT systems

• 220 high capacity buses operated by private sector (union Co-op)

• Off-board ticketing• Call Centre

BRT Stop: Typical Arrangement

BRT Lane: Typical Merge/Diverge

Why BRT-Lite?• ‘Reduced’ version of full BRT system design

– To be implemented within short timeframe– To sell the BRT concept to Lagosians and show what can be

achieved– Focus on delivery of achievable segregation

– To meet user needs• Safety• Affordability• Reduced journey times• Comfort

– Best value investment• Travel time benefits to 200,000

BRT passengers per day with little adverse impact on private vehicles

How was this achieved?

• Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP)• Creation of strategic transport authority –LAMATA• Study tours to Latin America (2004 and 2006)• Feasibility study, surveys and preliminary design• Governor’s approval• Public sector infrastructure provision and

maintenance• Private sector finance – Ecobank

How was this achieved - 2• Early engagement of transport unions/Stakeholder

Meetings• Creation of BRT Coop• Road Traffic Regulation– Non-BRT PT vehicles use service lanes– Traffic enforcement by LASTMA

• Public enlightenment campaign• Training ‘pilots’ & operatives

Scheme Success – BRT performance

• 195,000 trips per day carried• 10,000 passengers in peak hour per direction• Journey time savings of 25 minutes for end-to-end trip

Mile 12 to CMS BRT Other PT on corridor

Via 3rd Mainland Bridge

In-Vehicle Journey Time

55 minutes 78 minutes 64 minutes

Fare 100 Naira 230N (2 stage) 120N (2 stage)

Interchange No Yes Yes

Wait time 10 minutes 45 minutes 10 minutes

Scheme Success – modal share

• BRT carries 25% of all trips along corridor whilst accounting for just 4% of vehicles

• 10% of trips to Lagos Island are carried by BRT• Better conditions for other road users due to

regulation of other PT vehicles into service lanes• Main suggestion for improvement is more BRT

buses and roll-out of BRT on more routes (requested by over 50% of non-users surveyed!)

stongly disagreedisagree

not sureagree

strongly agree

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BRT is ....... than my previous mode of travel

Scheme Success – User opinion

• BRT is .... than my previous mode of transport

Determining Factors for Success

• Significant and consistent political support• The presence and capabilities of the strategic

public transport body - LAMATA• Scheme design focused on user needs and on

deliverability• Stakeholder engagement (including transport

unions)• Community awareness and engagement

Next steps

• Extension and expansion of BRT network• Integration with planned water/rail systems• Migration to electronic ticketing• Continued training of operations personnel

and pilots• Introduction of formal feeder routes and

Park&Ride

Questions?