An integrated mobile and web-based system for bus rapid transit (brt) in Dar es Salaam

Abstract

The rapid population growth in Dar Es Salaam has prompted the demand of effective transport system in the city. This tremendous rise of population leads to a serious road traffic congestion, which brings a number of challenges into the city and other growing urban areas. The city’s local governments attempted various solutions to control the traffic congestions including building of other roads, expansion and extension of present roads, installation of traffic lights and other transportation infrastructures though they have not relieved the problem. The Government of Tanzania (GoT) supported the city’s efforts by establishing the administrative organ called Dar Es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) to administer the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The government through DART has improved the public transport in the city. The BRT system provided direct benefits to passengers like minimal travelling time, improved reliability as compared to other public transport commonly known as daladala and accident reduction because BRT buses use their exclusive lanes. Besides its advantages, the newly adopted transport system has brought some challenges to its customers. Among others are; a queue during ticket booking, shortage of smart cards, and inability to check and top-up balance using passengers' mobile phones. Therefore, the study presents a software-based solution that will help passengers to check balance, send request by specifying station to board a bus and check or predict bus arrival time at any station.