The Tanzania transport sector is preparing to implement phase one of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (Dart) project, which has been designed in order to provide a mass transport program that is both affordable of high-quality that will help improve the overall mobility of the city.
According to projected estimates, the Dart project will likely cost about Tshs 200 billion, with each kilometer of the road costing approximately $5 million, with each 10.5km having a separate contractor.
The majority of the funding for the project will be supplied by the World Bank, while the Government of Tanzania is expected to contribute approximately Tshs 11 billion as compensation for residents of the city who are affected by the project.
Overall, the entire project will be spread out over a six-phase, long-term system network implementation plan that is expected to begin in June or July and will complete the first phase scheduled by the end of next year.
Following the completion of the first phase of the project, the second phase will involve the Nyerere road and is expected to be completed by 2012
The third phase of the project will primarily be dedicated to the Kilwa road and will span an area of 23.6 kilometers, including 29 stations, 5 terminals and 2 depots.
Upon completion of the project, the Dart system will cover the main roads of the city, including Bagamoyo, Nyerere, Kilwa and Morogoro.
The completed network of roads will be composed of 137 kilometers, 18 terminals and 228 stations.
In addition, the Dart project will include pedestrian paths and crossing facilities as well as open spaces, feeder roads, six feeder stations and parking facilities, specifically for bicycles near stations and terminals.
In a recent interview with the Guardian, the CEO of the Dart Agency, Cosmas Takule, said that the first phase of the project is expected to cover 20.9 kilometers of exclusive bus lanes in addition to 29 stations, 2 depots, and 5 terminals, located at Ferry, Kariakoo, Morocco, Ubungo and Kimara.
The coordination of infrastructure for the project will be undertaken by the Dart Agency, however finances to support the vehicles that will operate the system will be primarily handled private investors.
“Our system is going to use closed stations, which are suitable for both disadvantaged and people without disability,” said Mr. Takule in a report by the Guardian, “We expect to utilize high capacity buses each with ability to carry between 140 and 150 people, sitting and standing. About 145 articulated buses will be used on seven routes of the truck corridors.”
According to Takule, depending on quotes from actual service providers, of the Tshs 200 billion, approximately $103 million will be spent on infrastructure, while Tshs 50 billion on the purchase of buses with an additional Tshs 4 billion will be spent on the collection of fares.
