Implementation of Bus Rapid Transit System as an Alternative for Public Transportation in Developing Countries Case of Dart System in Dar Es Salaam

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) combines the benefits of light rail transit with the flexibility and efficiency of bus transit. The goal of BRT development is to enhance ridership and reduce operating costs with increased service levels and quality. A BRT system combines the technology of intelligent transportation systems, traffic signal priority, cleaner and quieter vehicles, rapid and convenient fare collection, and integration with land use policy. BRT has demonstrated improvements in public transportation service and enabled improvements that can be implemented at relatively low cost. This paper explains an introduction of a proposed BRT system, so-called DART (Dar Rapid Transit). The system is proposed in order to improve the infrastructure for commuters in the city. The project is expected to be fully implemented by 2030. The choice of introducing the proposed BRT system in Dar es Salaam was analyzed through a survey of the attitudes of the users and operators of the existing system and the private car commuters in the city to counter the transportation challenge within the city.