DART
Tanzania is expanding the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (DART) system as part of a metropolitan mobility upgrade designed to serve a city projected to reach 10 million residents by 2050.[1]
The DART system is the backbone of mass urban mobility in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest commercial city and the gateway port for six neighboring landlocked countries.[1]
Its ongoing expansion is part of a broader programme to relieve congestion on the city's road network, including upgrades to key arteries such as T1 (Morogoro Road) and T7 (Kilwa Road).[1]
DART Within the Dar es Salaam Mobility System
Dar es Salaam is the principal commercial hub of Tanzania and a transit corridor that connects six neighboring landlocked countries to global markets through its port.[1]
The city's population is projected to reach 10 million by 2050, placing significant pressure on the existing transport network.[1]
The DART bus rapid transit system has been positioned as the primary mass-transit solution to absorb rising commuter demand and ease traffic congestion across the metropolitan area.[1]
Expansion of DART runs in parallel with major arterial road upgrades, ensuring that BRT corridors integrate with the broader urban road grid.[1]
Network Expansion and Road Integration
Major developments underway involve widening central roads, including Ohio Street and Sokoine Drive, to four lanes to accommodate higher vehicle and bus volumes in the city core.[1]
Key arteries serving the DART corridors, notably T1 (Morogoro Road) and T7 (Kilwa Road), are being upgraded to manage congestion and improve travel times for BRT services.[1]
The expansion of the DART bus rapid transit system is being implemented alongside these road improvements, creating a more integrated urban mobility network.[1]
This combined approach addresses both the dedicated BRT infrastructure and the mixed-traffic environment in which feeder routes operate.[1]
Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP II)
Complementing the DART expansion, TARURA is implementing the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project Phase II (DMDP II).[1]
DMDP II includes the construction and upgrading of more than 168 km of roads in the Dar es Salaam Region.[1]
These works strengthen the secondary road network that feeds passengers into the DART trunk corridors, improving accessibility from residential neighborhoods to BRT stations.[1]
The combination of trunk BRT expansion and feeder road upgrades is intended to deliver a more cohesive metropolitan transport system as the city grows toward its 10 million population horizon.[1]
Strategic Role in Regional Trade and Mobility
Dar es Salaam's transport infrastructure, including DART, operates within a city that serves as the access point to global markets for Tanzania and six neighboring landlocked countries through its port.[1]
Efficient urban mobility in Dar es Salaam therefore has implications beyond local commuting, affecting the speed and cost of freight and passenger movement linked to regional trade.[1]
The DART system reduces road congestion that would otherwise slow the movement of goods between the port, industrial areas, and onward corridors.[1]
By absorbing high-volume passenger flows, BRT frees capacity on key arteries such as T1 (Morogoro Road) and T7 (Kilwa Road), which are also critical freight routes.[1]
Investment Opportunities
The continued expansion of the DART bus rapid transit system creates investment angles across BRT fleet supply, depot and station construction, fare collection technology, and operations and maintenance services.[1]
Widening of central roads such as Ohio Street and Sokoine Drive to four lanes, together with upgrades to T1 (Morogoro Road) and T7 (Kilwa Road), opens contracting opportunities in civil works, materials supply, and engineering services.[1]
The DMDP II programme, covering more than 168 km of road construction and upgrading in the Dar es Salaam Region, provides a substantial pipeline for construction firms, equipment suppliers, and consultancies.[1]
With Dar es Salaam projected to reach 10 million residents by 2050, sustained demand exists for vehicle assembly, commercial fleet supply, and mobility solutions that complement mass transit.[1]
Last Update: May 2026
References
- https://www.bot.go.tz/Publications/Regular/Annual%20Report/en/2026022607584561.pdf (Guide reference #1)
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