RESIDENTIAL
3.2.4. CURRENT SOLUTIONS
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Plate 30: A photograph showing the chaotic yellow buses on the “normal” roadway, and the line-up of blue BRT buses in their dedicated lane during peak hours. Notice the queue of people waiting to board the BRT buses.
(www.skyscrapercity.com).
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Figure 52: A map showing the BRT routes in Lagos (www.lamata-ng.com).
The system in Lagos aims to reduce traffic congestion whilst giving the poorer members of the city the mobility they need at a cheap price (www.lamata- ng.com)
Although the BRT system has been a resounding success (it moves 200 000 people daily, and in the two years of its operation it has moved 120 million people (www.lamata-ng.com), it still is not a big enough infrastructure investment for the scale of Lagos, therefore the Light Rail system is currently under construction.
3.2.4.2. The LRMT System
The Lagos Light Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) system is currently under construction and the first phase, which comprises the Blue and Red lines,will be operational by 2012 and 2013 respectively (www.skyscrapercity.com).
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Figure 53: A map showing the Blue and Red Light Rail lines which will be operational by 2012 and 2013 respectively
(www.skyscrapercity.com).
Figure 54: A map showing all proposed Light Rail lines in Lagos (www.lagosrail.co
Table 1: A table illustrating the
development intentions of the Lagos Light Rail system in terms of length, passenger/hour rate and completion date
(www.skyscrapercity.com).
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Figure 55: A map showing the Blue Line’s route and stops. (www.lagosrail.com).
Figure 56: A map showing the Red Line’s route and stops.
(www.lagosrail.com).
According to Lagos Rail, the Blue Line will travel through one of the most densely travelled corridors in the city. It will pass through and near residential areas, commercial areas and industrial nodes such as the Volkswagen vehicle assembly plant. This line will follow the route of the freeway, and will be located between the west- and east-bound carriageways. Elevated pedestrian walkways will be used in order to ensure safe access to the Light Rail stations (www.lagosrail.com).
The Red Line passes through some of the most densely populated areas in Lagos, hence the greater projected passenger/hour rate. The Red Line will share the section of the Blue Line when crossing into Lagos Island (www.lagosrail.com).
The intention of the Lagos Light Rail scheme is to rationalise the transportation system in a “chronically congested” city (Lagos State Government, 2008: 5).
The system functions as a subway does in that it is a formalised point-to-point system on a predefined route, as opposed to the present informal taxi and bus services which follow the needs of the passengers.
Page | 91 3.2.5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Lagos is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, and has been for many decades.
It grew from 500 000 people in 1960 to 17.5 million in 2006. The rejected masterplan of the 1970s attempted to decentralise the city’s functions in order to disperse and de- densify the city because population density was beginning to show signs that it was nearing a dangerous point in terms of health and safety, as well as stress on the existing infrastructure due to the emphasised centrality of the city. But, as noted, these plans were put on hold in 1982 and during the 16 years of military rule which followed.
Minimal maintenance and construction of infrastructure occurred during this time which did not help the dire living conditions of this city, as well as the city’s organisation in terms of urban structure.
Since the military government was overtaken by a democratic one in the 1990s, a more rational approach to city planning has occurred in Lagos. Traffic congestion was always an issue in the ever expanding city, and with irrational town planning coupled with a chaotic public transport system, traffic management was almost impossible.
Bold solutions were required to attempt to make Lagos a more liveable city, and one which would make doing business more attractive, seeing that Lagos is West Africa’s commercial hub.
The first of these solutions came in the form of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which uses a bus system similar in nature to a subway system. Buses travel on dedicated lanes in order to provide a regular, reliable, timely, point-to-point service.
This system was a resounding success, and in the first two years of its implementation the service carried 120 million passengers.
Plate 31: An artist’s impression of the Lagos Light Rail and BRT systems. Notice they both run on lanes independent of the main road.
The traffic to the left of the image is indicative of the current traffic situation in Lagos
(www.skyscrapercity.com).
Page | 92 However, it was recognised that this service alone would not be enough to make a substantial long-term difference in the traffic congestion problems of Lagos. This brought on the proposal of a Light Rail Network which would function in a similar fashion to the BRT, except it would be on rails. It would be more expensive to implement than the BRT, but it would be more efficient, and would carry many more passengers, than the BRT.
Two of the proposed nine routes are currently under construction. They are the routes which would be accessible to the majority of the population in the most congested parts of the city.
The Light Rail and BRT systems will function together to move people around the city of Lagos. Although the city remains centralised in terms of commercial activity, each of the stations is located at points of activity, whether residential, shopping, minor business, industrial or entertainment.
Page | 93 3.3. OFFICE DECENTRALISATION IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA