Don Urges Government to Build Infrastructure to Reduce Transportation Problems

Don Urges Government to Build Infrastructure to Reduce Transportation Problems

A Professor of Transport Geography, Emman Funlayo Ogunbodede, has

called on government at all levels to focus on building

infrastructures to address the problem of inefficient transport

services and inadequate transportation in the urban space.

Prof. Ogunbodede made the call today (Tuesday, June 20, 2017) while

delivering the 10th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University,

Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, entitled, ‘Trading space for a

Cost: A Transport Geographer’s View’.

Prof. Ogunbodede said, “As human beings grow, so, also, the urban

space records growth and development. Hence, transport infrastructural

needs, at any point in time, must be pursued vigorously by government

at all levels to reduce transportation problems in our urban space.

Importantly, too, and as much as possible, we must not allow political

decisions to override planning decisions, if we want to ensure

adequate and efficient mobility in our cities.”

He asked government to encourage the construction of circular roads in

cities with over two million populations in order to aid efficient

distribution of traffic within the urban centres, while the movement

of traffic that are not destined for the city centre should be

diverted to circular roads or bye-passes with a view to assisting to

distribute traffic not meant for the city centre to the periphery.

He added that bus priority routes are made an integral part of the

road transport infrastructure in Nigerian cities with over 2 million

people, while road transport infrastructures and complimentary

facilities' development should be phased out and made to coincide with

vehicular and spatial growth of settlements.

The don emphasized the need for para-transit or Bus Rapid Transit,

BRT, on some routes, especially the ones that link up both commercial

and public land uses to residential zones of the city, which according

to him, would go a long way to reduce congestion in some routes and

also reduce waiting time at bus stops to such zones.

According to him, provision of supplementary power supply to streets

and traffic control points should form part of the Corporate Social

Responsibilities of major eateries, banks and hotels that often put on

their electric power generators each time there is power failure.

Prof. Ogunbodede further said, “The three tiers of government should

promote the use of non-motorized mobility in the urban centres that

now qualify as metropolis and megalopolis. Light rail system should be

encouraged from the city centre to the outskirts of the urban

environment. This will greatly discourage and reduce the congestion

experienced in the Central Business District, CBD.

“Traffic Information System, TIS, should be incorporated into the

existing traffic management system of cities. This TIS must be built

on a well-designed database. The database must however be updated from

time to time to meet the exigencies of traffic dynamics. TIS should be

fully deployed to create effective monitoring platform for traffic

situation to road users and curb traffic offences.”

While canvassing the development of curriculum on safety awareness

education for motor traffic offenders, drivers' license applicants and

all other roads users, Prof. Ogunbodede urged city planners to make

the necessary provisions for a public parking space in the core area

of the city with appropriate transport complimentary facilities to

encourage the free flow of traffic.

He added, “The existing urban road transport infrastructure like roads

and complimentary facilities like street lights, traffic lights,

drainages, zebra-crossings and bus stops should be properly maintained

and put to effective use.

“Consideration should also be given to the reconstruction of major

roads, provision of more motor parks, fly-overs, over-head bridges and

traffic lights at intersections as the city assumes a new settlement

status.”