Transport-Land Use Research Study - Millennium Cities Initiative ...

The Accra Pilot BRT: Transport-Land Use Research Study
Millennium Cities Initiative and Accra Metropolitan Assembly
Reconsidering design plans for the overhead bridge at Kaneshie Market, given widespread concerns
over accessibility and safety.
Maintaining existing at-grade zebra crossings within Kaneshie, and building in accessibility-friendly
measures (e.g. dipped curbs for wheelchair access, prolonged red lights to ensure those who progress
more slowly can safely cross the street in time).
In addition, bus selection and local adaptations for the BRT are a key opportunity to address these concerns:
Buses should visually display service routes (including stops) inside the buses in highly visible areas,
such as at the head of the bus, at the sides and overhead.
Bus operators or assistants should make use of loudspeakers to announce current stops as the bus
approaches each destination, and upcoming stops as the bus loads passengers.
Buses should provide an audio cue to warn passengers when bus doors will be closing, so as to prevent
any unwanted accidents.
Buses should include a sizeable cargo hold area, so that customers carrying their purchased goods,
cyclists transporting their bicycles and market women carrying their goods can utilize the BRT.
Separate services targeting market women and the times they travel to market should be considered;
the market women in particular have a serious need for transporting their goods to and from market.
Their patronage of the system depends upon the system‟s ability to accommodate this need.
To complement the BRT project, provide incentives for mass transit and disincentives for private
transit that will encourage increased use of public transit.
Giving BRT buses the right-of-way in segregated lanes will provide a major incentive to support this form of
mass transit by making it more efficient. These buses should also be comfortable, affordable and accessible.
Additional policies that can be implemented to promote public transport include:
Making access to public transit easy, both physically and economically – promoting access as outlined
above, but also providing affordable fares.
Reducing stoppage along the corridor, and promoting ease of traffic flow.
Decreasing available parking spaces along the remaining two lanes of the Winneba Road at Kaneshie
by instituting a “no parking” policy that is enforced with fines. For areas where parking is necessary,
metered parking could be made available. Both of these measures would put parking at a premium.
Assigning certain times of day for distribution/service activity to shops along the BRT corridor to
promote a separation between commuter traffic flow and distribution activity.
Considering the promotion of park-and-ride as an opportunity to draw private vehicle drivers toward
riding the BRT.
Developing an area-wide transportation plan that accommodates the needs of customers, distributors
and businesses and that proposes alternative routes and parking areas to accommodate these needs.
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