The Rwandan government is set to digitize its transport system in the city of Kigali. The process will see the city transition to an advanced transport scheme by 2020.
Tagged the ‘Generation 2’, the new system aims to revolutionize Kigali’s public transport system through higher IT usage, improved route planning, proper vehicle mix, and a strict scheduled service.
According to the New Times, Engr. Emmanuel Asaba Katabarwa, the Head of Transport Department at RURA, revealed that the system through technology will grant passengers access to the nearest bus stop, the exact bus arrival time, and the route that each bus operates.
In his words “We are working with partners who are developing apps that will give people information. For example, you will be able to know that the bus I need will arrive in the next ten minutes.”
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Katabarwa also noted that there will be a timetable displayed across the RURA websites and other institutions to state the arrival of the buses and routes. He also noted that the system will introduce dedicated lanes for public transport vehicles.
The dedicated lane is to make the buses swifter and suitable. This aims to discourage and reduce the use of private cars and in return, scale the demand for public transport.
Generation 2 will also see that the roads are divided into primary, secondary and tertiary routes depending on the volume of passengers. The primary routes—most popular routes, will be plied by big buses with a waiting time of 5 minutes.
Coasters will ply the secondary routes, at a waiting time of ten minutes. This is also applicable to the tertiary routes.
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