Abuja is the fastest growing city in the world with population of more than 3 million people and a growth rate of 139.7% from 2000-2010, according to the United Nation figures. The city is growing on weekly, if not on daily basis. The government administrative and private commercial activities put a huge pressure on road use and local transport operation at rapid and alarming growth rate.
Also, as climate change becomes a pressing concern that drives a rising share of global financial investment decisions, interest is growing in the development of generalized tools to appraise the GHG reduction potential of alternative investments, operational strategies, and programs. The greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of transportation system interventions, such as investments in bus rapid transit (BRT), is of growing interest to transportation and environmental officials, investors, and other stakeholders. These interventions reduce GHG emissions by inducing passengers to switch modes (from car to bus, for example), to switch to larger units within modes (to switch from a 12-m bus to an 18-m articulated bus, for example), or through improved occupancy rates (the average passengers per bus might increase from 60 to 150, for example).
Bus rapid transit systems can have positive environmental impacts by reducing greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change as well as local air pollutants, which lead to citywide air pollution and smog. Reductions in vehicle emissions can be achieved in several ways, including reducing vehicle kilometre travelled (VKT) and improving the fuel efficiency and technology of the buses. Passengers shifting from single-occupancy vehicles to high occupancy BRT buses reduce overall VKT in the city. Likewise, many BRT systems consolidate informal systems comprised of low-occupancy vans that may use older and more polluting fuels and vehicle technologies. New articulated or bi-articulated BRT buses can carry many more passengers per bus kilometre and many are capable of meeting the most stringent emissions standards.
The replacement of older vehicles with newer buses is likely to also contribute to reducing emissions of local air pollutant on the corridor, which can have health benefits by reducing premature deaths and lost work days associated with pulmonary diseases.
The objective of this proposal in general is to provide a conducive commuting environment for the larger majority to Abuja resident and those that commute in and out of the city for business and to highlight the impact of climate change. Specifically, the proposal is meant to address the following:
❖ Stimulating investment into transport system by multinational investors
❖ Introduction of fully automated Rapid Bus Transit systems
❖ A state-of-the-art strategic investment in road infrastructure
❖ Reorienting the traffic system including users in Abuja to make them less dependent on the use of private cars.
We understand the ripple effects this project will create within and outside the Federal Capital Territory as more jobs will be available and more people will enjoy moving from place to place in a safe and much cleaner environment.
The traffic congestion and the environmental pollution caused by use of fossil fuel is a general problem that all road users experience by residents and road users alike, while most people are not concerned about the pollution, many are aware of the slow traffic movement in the morning rush hours and peak period during close of business because of the travel time and man hours lost to in traffic, car owners are on the increase as everyone aspire to buy a car for personal use as the only individual solution that increases the problem for the majority of the population. Our solution is the park and ride system with efficient, secured and environmentally friendly Bus Rapid Transport to discourage people from using private vehicles and use inter Metro Buses.
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