Monthly Report on Dar es Salaam Travel Time
- March 2010
The business environment in Dar es Salaam is seriously affected by congestion and an apparent laxity in terms of city’s infrastructure improvement and expansion. Regardless of the importance of the city to the national economy there has been no major investment in Dar es Salaam road infrastructure since 2007. As shown in table 1 below, only TShs 90,946,640,000 investments was made in Dar es Salaam roads expansion since 2007.
The business environment in Dar es Salaam is seriously affected by congestion and an apparent laxity in terms of city’s infrastructure improvement and expansion. Regardless of the importance of the city to the national economy there has been no major investment in Dar es Salaam road infrastructure since 2007. As shown in table 1 below, only TShs 90,946,640,000 investments was made in Dar es Salaam roads expansion since 2007.
As a consequence it is not uncommon for commuters to spent 2 hours or more to travel a distance as little as 16 kilometer due to traffic congestion. And this does not even include time spent waiting for those relying on public transport. Dar es Salaam is the center of business activities in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam is the main port of entry for goods shipped from overseas to Tanzania and an important transit point for goods destined for Rwanda, Malawi and many goods for DRC, Zambia and Uganda. Economic activity in Dar es Salaam is high and 60% of tax revenue for the national as a whole is collected in Dar es Salaam alone. Traffic congestion in Dar es Salaam has far serious consequences for the economy as excessive travel time affects business operation and vehicle operation cost as well as the welfare of citizens in terms of time spent in traffic, public health and air quality. To monitor the evolution of traffic congestion in Dar es Salaam, the Center for Economic Prosperity is now monitoring travel times along the three main routes into Dar es Salaam on a monthly basis. This report is the first in a series of monthly reports on this issue.
2. CEP’s approach to measuring travel timeFor each of these routes a selection of automobile drivers fills out a form every day reflecting travel time into town and going from town to work.
The standard travel time was measured on 20th March 2010 between 0900hrs and 1230hrs from Posta to the end points of each route, for example, Posta to Airport, 11km, time spent 27 minutes, likewise for Mbezi Louis and Mbezi tankibovu routes with a moderate traffic and when traffic lights were functioning properly.
3. Travel time in March 2010Figure 1 presents the average travel time along the three routes (excluding waiting time for those using public transport, something that can easily take up to an hour each way).
There is much variation in travel time. As shown in figure 2 below, during the month of March the maximum time recorded for Bagamoyo route, from Posta to Mbezi tankibovu was 192 minutes (three hours and twelve minutes) while the minimum time was 45 minutes.
Likewise, from Mbezi tankibovu to Posta, the maximum time spent was 137 minutes (two hours and seventeen minutes, whereas, the minimum time spent stood at 30 minutes (half an hour). For the Nyerere route, much variation has also been noted. For example the maximum time spent to Posta was 88 minutes (one hour and twenty eight minutes) while the minimum time recorded was 23 minutes, below the standard travel time. There is a slight decrease in variation from Posta to Airport during the rush hours where as maximum time.As shown above, the route from Mbezi tankibovu to Posta via A.H Mwinyi road, in the morning hours, though getting favors’ from traffic police, mainly because it’s being used by high ranking government officials, there seems no big difference as compared to evening jam. The maximum time spent for Nyerere route recorded during morning hours stand at 88 minutes (One hour and twenty eight minutes) while during the evening hours the record drops a little bit.
4. Conclusion
The Centre for Economic Prosperity has started to monitor travel time in Dar es Salaam. It is already clear that for those relying on public transport, walking would often times be faster than relying on public transport. At present the Centre monitors three routes, but starting next month another two routes will be added. It is also envisaged that in the near future the Centre will be able to calculate the economic waste as a result of excessive travel time.
Ali Hassan Mwinyi road
Morogoro road near Magomeni Mapipa 
Old Bagamoyo road near Shopper's plaza
Hebu tuambie wewe hiyo study yako unaifanyaje? Methods gani unatumia?
ReplyDeleteThe study is a great beginning although a meticulous scientific approach is needed to convince govt officials. While the BRT plan seems to eliminate public transport problems, the government has failed to embrace it. You will probably need two other billboards one in magogoni and second opposite to MoID offices to click their minds.
ReplyDeleteBora wamekula Bilioni 90 tu, manake kwa jedwali Bilioni 40 zimetumika Mbagala rodi na hilo libarabara limeishabomoka kabla halijakamilika! Si ni ujambazi huo?
ReplyDeleteInabidi tuwaige wamarekani na "anti-incumbent sentiment" Fukuza viongozi na wabunge wote wameshindwa kazi.
Nilibahatika kuisoma makala iliyoandikwa na Amani Millanga inayosema 'Msongomano wa Magari Dar es Salaam: Athari Zake na Suluhisho' hebu itafuteni muone mchanganuo wake kuhusu athari za foleni ya magari na kutokuwepo kwa usafiri wa uhakika wakazi wa Dar. Huenda tutapata majibu. GD aka Mwanabidii.
ReplyDeleteAnon wa 12:54 tafadhali soma tena hiyo study (carefully). Ukiwa na muda nenda www.ceptz.org na halafu uliza swali.
ReplyDeleteHii ni kero hakuna hata sababu ya kununua Gari Dar miundombinu haiendani na idadi ya watu pamoja na magari yao! Nafikiri itabidi kuwe na usafiri wa helkopta la sivyo hakuna starehe yoyote kama unatumia masaa kwenda sehemu ya dakika 15!
ReplyDeletePoleni sana wabongo.
mimi nimenda picha wish marlow ile video yake ya pipiiii angepigia maeneo hayo..................
ReplyDeleteMwandishi angeandika kiswahili michango ingekuwa mingi. Mi sijambulia kitu ila nimeelewa ni msongamano wa magari Dar. Haya changieni mlioelewa. Naenda blogu la waswahili.
ReplyDeleteThe study should also include pick hours between 0630-0830 and 1630-1930. It will be helpful to include a control due to variations of weather.
ReplyDeleteTANZANIA INABIDI IBADILI MFUMO WA BARABARA, KWA MFANO, BARABARA ZA MANDELA,NYERERE,KILWA,BAGAMOYO NA MOROGORO ZINABIDI ZIWE NA NJIA MOJA ILIYONYOOKA KWA AJILI YA MAGARI YANAYOTOKA MJINI AU BANDARINI KWENDA NJE YA JIJI TU;HII ITAHUSU MABASI YA MIKOANI, MALORI NA WATU BINAFSI WANAOSAFIRI OLE WAKO UKIINGIA USIYEHUSIKA ITAKUBIDI UKAGEUZIE NJE YA JIJI. NINI KIFANYIKE, NJIA PANDA ZINAKUWA NA BARABARA ZA JUU KWA JUU. MITAA NDANI YA JIJI ITENGENEZWE ILI NAYO ITUMIKE, KWA MFANO ENEO LA KARIAKOO LINA MITAA MINGI SANA LAKINI HAITUMIKI KWA SABABU YA UBOVU HIVYO MAGARI YOTE INABIDI YASONGAMANE KWENYE BARABARA ZA UHURU, MSIMBAZI NA NYERERE, LAKINI HAYA YOTE YANAWEZA KUFANYIKA ENDAPO TU UFUJAJI WA PESA ZA KODI UTAKAPO DHIBITIWA KWANI SASA HIVI HAKUNA UJENZI WOWOTE WA BARABARA WALA MATENGENEZO KWA ZILE ZILIZOHARIBIKA.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly highlighting whats wrong with this country, the government donn't understand its priority for the well being of the Nation as a whole,
ReplyDeleteHow come a nation of over 20Regions being ignored economically, where by more than60% of total revenue comming from just one region(Dar es Salaam). Some will argue by giving reasonS to it.
CONGRATULATION TO THE THINK TANK, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, COUNT ME ON IT.
Jamanieeeh ... mimi mmeniacha kwenye kiza sijaelewa hii mada inazungumzia nini ,kwani sielewi kizungu,nawapenda sana wachina kila kitu chao wanaandika kichina tena ukienda china utapata tabu kama hujui kichina tena kizungu hawakijui huko, lakini sisi mpaka leo hii ni wakoloni wa uingereza ,sasa kama hiyo mada inahusu wananchi kwanini isiandikwe kiswahili ? au ni kwa wanojua kizungu tu ndo inawahusu, YAANI SISI NI WATUMWA WA AKILI,
ReplyDeleteNATUMAI MTAJIREKEBISHA
Kaka MISUPU,Kwa usumbufu huo wa foleni BONGO tunaitaji underground za kutosha tu hapo town kama ilivyo LONDON nafikiri itasaidia sana kwa kiasi fulani kupunguza foleni vile vile tuweke hata MOTORWAYS kama vile M4,M25,M6,M14,M1,M5,M2,M8,M11 na zingine nyinge ila kwa ufisadi wa BONGO ni ndoto za alinacha.Eeeh Mnyaazi Mungu tusaidie!!!
ReplyDeleteThe study is a good step that could help road users to plan their tarvel to and from work. atleast for the time being while we wait for the Goverment to take more serious steps in solving the broblem.
ReplyDeleteI support the view by Anony 08:25 that a control to factor in the issue of weather be considered as it has been observed that whenever it rain in Dar the traffic jam become worse. may be Tanzania Meteorological Agency could provide input to that effect
Mwenye paper hiyo ya Amani atushushie tuone kilichoandikwa.
ReplyDeletekwa kuwa study inaonyesha wa-daressalaam (dar es salaamlites) wanatumia muda mwingi kwenye foleni,
ReplyDeletekwa kuwa tunajua watu wengi wanajaza mafuta ya kiduchukiduchu (na vidumu juu),
Je kwanini mamlaka husika zisiruhusu wamachinga kutembeza mafuta barabarani kama wauzavyo vocha za simu? hata lita tano tano za petrol tosha kabisa.
Ni hayo tu, asanteni.
Mdau wa vidumu
It’s such a nice study, despite the fact that it’s just a beginning. Congratulations for the significant job. I have few comments on this, 1. refer Anonymous @ Thu May 20, 08:25:00 AM , 2. I think it could be wonderful also to mention some hours that one could reach one of the two points in shortest time, instead of giving us average time as you did. 3. Extend the recommendations, either by what should be done by the government or propose alternative roads during pick hours. 4. Language use, bloggers prefers Kiswahili language; better provide us with Kiswahili version also. Kama walivyopendekeza Anonymous wa Thu May 20, 08:03:00 AM na Thu May 20, 10:19:00 AM...kiasi wameshindwa kuelewa na kuchangia chochote.
ReplyDeleteMay be for the future studies, the issue of average fuel consumption should also be involved. Because fuel kills us! Lol!
Again, congratulations and keep it up!
Mdau, De
Tatizo haliwezi kutatulika endapo mtaendelea "kuwavuta" wakubwa wakiwa wanaenda kwenye shughuli zao. Kuwavuta = Traffic kusimamisha magari mpaka mkubwa au wake za wakubwa na familia zao wapite! SAD.
ReplyDeleteReport is available at http://www.ceptz.org/docs/Monthly%20Report%20on%20Dar%20es%20Salaam%20Travel%20Time%20March%202010.pdf
ReplyDeleteNYIE MNAODAI TAFSIRI MKO VIPI? KOMPYUTA ZENU ZINA UWEZO WA KUTAFSIRI UNACHOTAKIWA KUFANYA NI KUKOLEZA MAELEZO UNAYOYATAKA KISHA NENDA JUU KWENYE VIFAA BONYEZA NENO TRANSLATE CHAGUA KISWAHILI KISHA TAFSIRI ITATOKEA.
ReplyDeleteKihistoria Dar es salaam haikujengwa kuwa jiji,kilikuwa ni kitongoji cha wavuvi.Kwa sababu hiyo jiji lina barabara chache kwenda kwenye CBD(Central Business District). City center hipo kwenye corner ya mji.Njia pekee ya kuzuia congestion kuongezeka ni kuwa na sehemu nyingi za kutoa huduma zinazopatikana katikati ya mji.
ReplyDeleteTravel time studies zinafanywa hasa pale unapotaka kurekebisha taa za barabarani. Tatizo lililopo Dar ni kwamba hakuna capacity kwenye barabara kwa traffic iliyopo.Kwa sababu za kiuchumi kujenga barabara sio rahisi kwa hiyo kujenga reversible lanes kutumika wakati wa peak hours inaweza kuwa moja ya solutions.Njia nyingine ni kuwapa moyo watu watumie mabasi kwenye sehemu ambazo watapaki magari yao na kupunguza wingi wa magari.Kutoza magari yanayokwenda mjini inaweza kuwa njia mojawapo ya kupunguza magari.
Kwa utaratibu tunaoendelea nao freeways au train ndio itatatua tatizo lililopo.Sehemu ambazo zina gridlocks wanaweza kujenga at grade intersection badala ya kuwa na freeway moja kwa moja.Kuna msemo Marekani unaosema "We can't build our way out of congestion" Kujenga barabara sio jawabu pekee kwa jinsi ripoti inavyojaribu kulitatua tatizo. Kila kitu kina mwanzo labda mtakuja na solution nzuri. Kwa umbali ambao hupo kwenye ripoti hapa Marekani unaendesha kwa dakika 12 badala ya masaa matatu.
Mdau - USA
haya kwa mnaolalamika lugha...pengine hiiripoti wameandikiwa wale wazungu wanaowaombaga ombaga hela za kujenga kila kitu kuanzia vibanda vya kuku, barabara hadi viwanja vya ndege, mimi na nyie waswahili wenzangu hata tukielewa hii ripoti kwani tutafanya nini zaidi ya kutukana na kufyonya
ReplyDeleteWadau angalieni tofauti ya aina za magari hapo, kwa barabara zote tatu!! unaona ee?? Shopperz huko zimajaa 4WD za kutosha, cheki Ali Hassan Mwinyi gari za maana na mazingira full greenish!! Haya turudi kwetu Morogoro Magomeni kwenda Manzese, full daladala na taxi zilizochoka, kukavuuu!!
ReplyDelete