Published on : 15/06/2022 – 00:34
Eighteen kilometers of lanes reserved only for buses which cross 14 municipalities and serve 23 stations: in Senegal, the authorities have initiated a restructuring of transport. The TER was already inaugurated at the end of last year. And in the capital, work on the Bus on Reserved Lanes (BRT) project is underway. 300,000 travelers are expected every day. The BRT has ecological objectives with its planned 120 electric buses, but also economic and social ones.
Every day, it’s the same story, Hours of traffic jams: ” It’s rush hour. We waste a lot of time. complains Mr. Sall, a taxi driver for more than 15 years. ” Before it was better because there were fewer traffic jams and fewer cars. We’re tired because we have to get up early to avoid trafficadds the driver. And you have to come back late to also avoid traffic. You have to work a long time to shop. »
Daily pendulum movements between the city center of Dakar, a job center and the peripheral residential districts, hence the BRT project.
« I would like to summarize the ambition of the State of Senegal around the transition we are making, transition to collective mobility, affirms Thierno Birahim, Director General of the Dakar Urban Transport Executive Council. As you know, the capital is congested. Today, 4 million inhabitants, 7 million inhabitants expected in 2040 in this regional capital which is suffocating from its automobile transport while we have overall 30% of trips which are motorized.So we are preparing for the future with a transition to collective mobility. Energy transition also because we are going to offer the world the first electric BRT of this 100% electric capacity. »
Nearly 8,000 additional jobs
A trip today of 1h30, should be done with the BRT in 45 minutes. Projections estimate that the BRT will bring Dakar residents closer to 8,000 additional jobs. The project itself also creates jobs.
« The works phase generates 1,500 direct jobs since we integrate our local operators and in the operating phase we will generate 1,000 direct jobs, highlighted le director general of the executive council of urban transport in Dakar. But further, we are going to work on training, we are going to set up training modules for new trades in mobility, professional training, but also diploma training “, specifies Thierno Birahim.
The BRT is notably supported by the European Investment Bank, which finances approximately 52 billion CFA francs. ” The theme of urban mobility is absolutely decisive in areas like Dakarinsists Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the EIB. For us, this really responds to our desire to finance projects that will both improve the daily lives of residents, but also improve the environment. And in every sense of the word, this project corresponds to Senegalese and African priorities.. »
The use of electric buses should save 59,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. 55% of the work would have already been done. Completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
