Cities have a crucial role to play in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. More than 50 per cent of the global population lives in cities, which are also responsible for around 70 per cent of global energy related emissions.
Consequently, cities are on the frontline of both climate impacts and the transition to a sustainable future for all. As cities grow exponentially, the demand for urban transport also increases. But how these cities respond to the growing demand will determine the impact on the environment.
There is no doubt that a reliable and efficient public transport network is the backbone of a city's mobility system and is crucial in creating a healthy environment. It is against this background that cities worldwide are working towards improving public transport capacity and efficiency.
Taking cognisance of this, President Uhuru Kenyatta embarked on aggressive investment in the road network, which has been scaled up to build more highways and urban roads and also to extend rural roads to where they are needed to open up areas to economic activity, trade and commerce.
One of his key legacy projects is the recently completed Nairobi Expressway, a four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway within the existing median of Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki Way.
The expressway runs 27km, linking Mlolongo town in Machakos county and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. The expressway is part of the northern corridor that provides passage to 85 per cent of the cargo destined for neighbouring landlocked countries, such as Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
The expressway reaffirms President Kenyatta’s commitment to fostering sustainable urban development; a place for living and working that will redefine the landscape for generations to come. Apart from contributing to the reduction in carbon emissions and sustainable development, the expressway will ensure residents enjoy efficient transit through the city.
Other than sustainability issues, the expressway was designed with an aim to decongest traffic of A8 and meet the demands of JKIA expansion while enhancing the link between different cities and counties transiting through Nairobi.
It is expected to cut down transport time by 60 per cent across the city. For instance, it takes 15 minutes to travel from Westlands to Mlolongo, a distance that would ordinarily take a longer time to cover, given the congestion on Uhuru Highway and Mombasa Road.
The expressway will be operated by Moja Express for 27 years. The road was opened to motorised public on May 14 on a trial basis. The expressway has 11 inter-changes and is expected to accommodate 120,000 daily active users.
Some 10,000 people have already registered to use the expressway, whose design speed is 80kph. Toll charges are computed based on the vehicle type, entry and exit station. For instance, saloon cars entering the expressway at Westlands and exiting at Mlolongo will pay Sh360.
There are three payment methods namely cash, Electronic Toll Collection and Manual Toll Collection. Cash users are not obliged to register prior to their trip. An ETC card requires the installation of an On-Board Unit in the vehicle for automatic toll payment. It allows you to easily transition the stations without stopping.
Though mobile money is currently not among the payment options, the expressway will in future adopt other payment methods such as M-Pesa. There are 27 toll plazas manned on a 24-hour basis. Ambulances, police vehicles, military personnel and fire trucks are exempted from payment.
However, tuk-tuks, wheelbarrows, handcarts, bicycles, scooters and motorcycles will not be allowed on the expressway. Pedestrians will also not be allowed. This is largely for safety reasons and lack of appropriate toll charges for the excluded categories.
There is no doubt that the expressway will revolutionise city transport and the long winding traffic jams on the city’s roads will be a thing of the past.
Communications and PR expert based in Nairobi
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