Abir Tarhuni

Solutions for Urban Traffic Congestion Problem in Developing Countries Abir Tarhuni

Efficient traffic movement is essential for economic developments and social welfare; it primarily effects on the access to jobs, education, goods, and services. However, the rapid growth of population and private vehicles in African countries and many of other developing countries has been causing serious traffic congestion problem and other issues in safety, economy, and environment. Despite of vast research efforts in studying traffic congestion and other transportation planning issues, there are scarce research on reforming transportation policies and management in developing countries, especially African cities. This book contents two articles that seek to accommodate and manage the challenges of transportation planning in developing countries.
The book addresses the growing traffic congestion and planning and management issues in developing countries with a focus on Tripoli City in Libya. It provides readers with a basic understanding of the inefficiencies of transportation system, planning policy, and land use in Tripoli City as an example of many African cities that face pressures because of the growing population and motorization or vehicle ownership. Tripoli City is a good example to study congestion and transportation planning issues and show that common challenges are faced in African cities even if the circumstances and type of issues are not uniform. The book uses the conditions of transportation planning and infrastructure in Tripoli City to show that Low national income results are not the main issue in developing countries, but the lack of planning and policy making mechanisms. Libya is a rich developing country and Tripoli is the capital. However, the city is straggling from conditions of transportation planning and infrastructure similar to many poor African cities.
Common challenges are faced because of the traditional planning and policy-making approaches that diverts financial resources to expand roads and ignoring the public transportation and other non-motorized modes and approaches of planning as solutions for their substantial challenges posed by the growing motorization. The book tries to explore the possibilities for improving the principles of transportation planning, policies, and management in developing countries.