- The BRT is part of the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan which is being implemented to end vehicular congestion in the CBD.
- Line 3 is part of the five corridors which starts from Kenyatta Hospital and end at Dandora.
Image: HANDOUT
Nema has asked the public to submit comments on an environmental and social impact assessment report for the proposed Bus Rapid Transport Line 3.
Line 3 is part of the five corridors, which starts from Kenyatta Hospital and ends in Dandora.
The 12.4km line passes through Haile Selassie Avenue, the CBD along Racecourse Road to Ring Road Ngara and Juja Road.
Nema director general Mamo B Mamo said members of the public have 30 days to submit their comments.
This is pursuant to regulations 21 of Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations 2005.
BRT Line 3 project comprises of 10 main components: bus running ways, bus stations, bus depot, station access supporting infrastructure including pedestrian bridges, fare collection and validation systems.
It also includes a bus fleet ( 110-articulated buses), interchange stations for feeder bus services, park and ride facilities, a BRT control room and a real-time passenger information system.
Some of the anticipated impacts of BRT Line 3 project according to the study includes risk of road traffic accidents during the construction phase.
To address the issue, the report proposes that the contractor prepares a Traffic Management Plan, including deploying banksmen at all active construction sites to manage the flow of vehicles
The report says signs warning motorists of heavy construction units entering road sections should be erected ahead of the works.
Also expected is deterioration of ambient air quality. The contractor should however properly tune engines of equipment to ensure complete combustion of fuel and minimise exhaust fumes.
The report also says there will be regular inspection and maintenance of construction equipment and the contractor must comply to the requirements of EMC ( Air Quality) Regulations, 2014.
A waste management plan should also be prepared by the contractor for the construction and post-construction phases of the project.
The plan will address solid waste generated during the construction phase.
Skips and bins should also be strategically placed within the campsite and emptied regularly.
During the construction phase a septic tank system for human sanitary purposes should be stationed at the campsite to deal with wastewater generation.
In October 2020, Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority director general Francis Gitau said detailed designs for Line 3 (Chui) were ready.
“We have a company that has already reviewed the designs which were done in 2015," he said then.
The line will be funded by the European Union at an estimated cost of Sh40 billion.
The BRT is part of the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan which is being implemented to end vehicular congestion in the CBD.
To decongest the city, Namata gazetted five BRT lines which are in different phases of development.
This includes Line 1, which is called Ndovu. It runs from Limuru-Kangemi-CBD-Imara Daima-Athi River and Kitengela.
Line 2 called Simba runs from Rongai-Bomas-Langata Road-CBD-Ruiru-Thika and Kenol.
Line 4, called Kifaru, is comprised of East and West.
The East one runs from Mama Lucy Hospital-Donholm (Jogoo Road)-CBD.
The West one runs from CBD- T Mall-Bomas-Karen and Kikuyu.
BRT Line 5, which is also called Nyati, traverses Ridgeways (Kiambu Road)-Balozi (Allsops) and Imara Daima.
After launching the Nairobi Commuter Rail System in November 2020 President Uhuru Kenyatta said the next focus was implementation of the Bus Rapid Transport.
The two systems will complement each other when fully operational.
Uhuru said he had gazetted 12 mobility corridors, seven of them for core mass rapid transportation linking Limuru, Ngong town, Kenol, Murang’a, Kiambu, Ruai, JKIA and Konza technocity.
In August 2020, Kenya signed an agreement with South Korea to finance development projects among them BRT Line 5 (Outer Ring Road) at a cost of Sh6.4 billion.
Once complete, all the corridors are expected to hold up to 950 high capacity buses.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)