How Dar es Salaam Beat Traffic Chaos

Cutting commute times by 50% and serving 200,000 passengers daily, Dar es Salaam is proof that sustainable transit works.

The Challenge:
Dar es Salaam was struggling with severe traffic congestion, inefficient public transport, and rising carbon emissions – making it harder for residents to get where they needed to go.

The Solution:
Through a bold transit-oriented development (TOD) strategy, the city:
✅ Introduced a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system
✅ Improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
✅ Promoted compact, mixed-use urban development

The Results:
🌍 The BRT now serves 200,000+ passengers daily
⏱️ Commute times have been slashed by up to 50%
🌱 Carbon emissions have dropped significantly too

Dar es Salaam is now a model city for sustainable mobility in Africa – proving that bold urban planning can improve lives, protect the planet, and inspire others.

Sources:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/un-habitat-united-nation-human-settlements-programme-_cutting-commute-times-by-50-and-serving-activity-7284253496378286080-fMM6/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop