TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENYA

DEPERTMENT OF CIVIL AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (CIVIL ENGINEERING)
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND PLANNING
ASSIGNMENT
CLASS CODE: EICQ/2019
QUESTION:
Select a current transportation problem in your community or state. Briefly
describe the situation and the problem. Indicate options available and the major
impacts of each option on the community.
I come from the Gusii community and my county is Kisii.
Using the 7 step process of planning to answer;
1. Situation definition.
There is an increased purchase and ownership of motorcycles. This has led to the
usage of the available few foot paths in the Central Business District of Kisii Town
for instance by both the pedestrians and the motorcyclists.The number of bodabodas
in Kisii are so many in that they have even out numbered the number of cars that
move around the Central Business District.
Matatu operators have also turned the places on the edges of the busy roads in the
Central Business District to be their stations. That is where they are picking and
dropping passengers.
There are no distinct matatu stations in the town, even the bodaboda stages and the
few available are being utilized by vehicles from all routes converging or passing
through kisii town.
The bodaboda operators have been led into parking their motorcycles on the edges of
the roads and even forming their temporary stages in such places
2. Problem definition
Congestion is one of the major concerns in Kisii town. When cities in developing
countries were being developed, the engineers and planners involved failed to
consider the long term effects. This led to urban areas not being sustainable hence
years down the line the effects are now being felt. All this effects are majorly caused
by poor urban design.
When sustainable roads are being planned the planners consider the services offered
up to fifty years to come and the plan on population growth rate is also considered as
well as the rate at which the use of vehicles is increasing.
Traffic congestion comes along with increase in conflicts among car owners, the
motorcycle riders and the pedestrians. It also leads to increase in road accidents
because in Kisii town there are poor or no footpaths or foot bridges.
In addition to that you find that there are high rise buildings constructed along the
road. They accommodate many people both those working at the place and those
coming to access services depending on the demand and interests. All these people
have no standard footpaths for those walking to the buildings and good roads with
proper packing places for those who use cars. The end result is congestion.
No proper market places in town. Open air business people spread their goods along
the road minimizing the small space available to be used as a footpath. These act
forces pedestrians to walk at the edge of the road hence exposing them to accidents as
motorcyclists also tend to use the footpaths to avoid traffic.
The population of pedestrians that accesses the town is huge and because the small
space available has been taken over by hawkers and open air business people,
congestion has to arise as well as conflicts between pedestrians and car users. These
has led to congestion in Kisii town since despite the narrow roads and lack of
footpaths people have to go to work as well access services available in town.
A new sustainable plan for the town needs to be developed with the solutions of
existing problems in it.
3. Search of solutions
The solutions include;
 Construction and relocation of matatu and bodaboda stations outside the Central
Business District of the town i.e ;
Vehicles and motorists using the B3 road( Mai Mahiu-Narok -Sotik-Kisii
road) should have their stations at the area just before Kisii school.This
includes vehicles coming from Nyamira county, Keroka, Keumbu and even
from Nairobi.
Vehicles using the Rongo- Kisii road and the Kisii-Kisumu road should have
their station near Daraja Mbili Market just almost near where the two roads
meet.
Vehicles and motorists using the Kisii-Nyatieko road and that includes also all
routes from that side should have their station at Egesa stage ,just before
Nyambera.
Vehicles using the routes from the Nyanchwa side should have their stage at
the area near Kisii Primary School and the Gusii Stadium.
This will help decongest the CBD from having a lot of matatu and motorists which
have just almost made their stages along the roads leave alone driving on the
footpaths.
 Construction of footpaths and cycling paths along the major roads in the town.
4. Analysis of Performance
In analyzing the performance of the new matatu stations and the cycling paths and
footpaths, preliminary cost estimates are to be determined for each station and for the
entire stations.Cost estimates for the construction of both the footpaths and cycling
paths are also determined.
In this case I was not able to give out the cost estimates since no data has been
collected.
Computation of traffic estimates that could use each matatu station and the entire
stations collectively is then done.This is done also for both the cycling and footpaths.
Average time that the matatu and bodabodas will spend on the new stations is
determined compared to the current few ones that are available.For the cycling and
foot paths, the average travel time and trip lengths are determined.The number of
people and motorists,cyclists that are to pass through the footpaths and cycling paths
respectively is also determined.
Land required for the construction of the stations and paths is determined as well the
noise levels and impacts on the surrounding communities during construction and
operation on where they are to be located.The effects on the natural environment such
as water and air is considered.All these factors can also be computed and determined.
5. Evaluation of alternatives
In evaluation of the first alternative there are some benefits that will be arrived at as a
result of it. These include;
It will create employment opportunities for people to be working on the construction
of the stages
It will better the air quality around the CBD as streets will be clear of reviving
vehicles and thus this will promote a pedestrian friendly environment.Noise pollution
due to the blaring horns, loud music and incessant shouting from the matatu will also
be reduced.
Traffic congestion will also be reduced as only few vehicles will be accessing the
CBD of the town.
The relocation of the matatu stages will also create room for improved public space
around the town and this will encourage the growth the growth of our town in all
aspects more so economically.
The costs from this project will include money required in acquiring enough land for
this project and the compensation of those that may be affected near the areas where
the project will be implemented.
The benefit cost-ratio for this project is high and very sustainable.
The benefit from the second alternative is that there will be more available space for
pedestrians to walk but the fact that matatu will still be parking their vehicles on the
edges of the road there is the possibility of traffic congestion problem arising.People’s
houses along the roads and shop owners will adversely be affected as their properties
will be demolished so as to pave way for the construction of both the cycling and
footpaths.
The benefit cost ratio for this project is thus lower compared to that of the first
project.
6. Choice of project

The construction and relocation of matatu and bodaboda stations out of the CBD
project is chosen.This is because it has a high benefit cost ratio as compared to the
other project.
The site locations are selected and per indicated earlier and this is also after careful
consideration of all the factors involved as per the information gathered in the earlier
phases.
7. Specification and Construction
The detailed design phase in which each of the four stations is specified. Designs plans
for each of the four stations to be used by contractors and to estimate the cost of each
phase are produced. They involve physical location, geometric dimensions and structural
configuration.
Plans for each and every station are made available to the contractors who submit bids for
their construction. The bids are analyzed and a contractor is chosen based on the amounts
of funds available.
The project proceeds to the construction stage and upon completion it is turned on to the
Kisii county government(Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure) specifically the
transportation authority for launching.operation and maintenance.