Assessing impacts of a new urban NMT corridor implemented in central business district on traffic flow in the surrounding areas

Abstract

Non-motorised transport infrastructure is often neglected in transportation research and developments, yet walking and cycling are the natural transport modes for low-income households in developing countries, and they are as well considered important in developed countries due to their various benefits. In this report, the impacts of modifying busy motorised transport facilities in developing cities into non-motorised transport facilities on traffic flow in the surrounding areas were studied. The study used an approach that involved collecting and analysing traffic data before and after implementation of the non-motorised transport corridor. The results revealed that there was a negative impact on the surrounding streets traffic flow. The study further involved the use of an ideal flow network model to assess the impact and it was observed that traffic congestion levels increased by 39% on average on the surrounding roads. The levels of service for all the surrounding roads were found to be of level F which is considered highly undesirable as it reflects a congested and inefficient transportation system. Consequently, the study recommends implementation of complementary measures to improve traffic flow on the affected streets and intersections. This study contributes to the growing collection of transport infrastructure and urban planning literature, providing insights into the impacts of non-motorised transport infrastructure on traffic flow