Lagos and intermodal transport

Transportation, no doubt, is the pivot around which the wheel of every modern economy revolves. Indeed, the speed and efficiency with which people, goods and services can move from one point to the other largely determines the quality of life of the society.

In a city like Lagos – a city that aspires to attain a mega status – with an estimated population of over 18 million, the need for robust and well-developed transport infrastructure becomes even more pressing. This is why the state government under Babatunde Raji Fashola sometime ago embarked on development of intermodal transportation system.

Intermodal transportation, also called mixed-mode commuting, involves using more than one modes of transportation in a journey. The goal of mixed-mode commuting is often to combine the strengths (and offset the weaknesses) of various transportation options. Its advantages include reduction of pressure on the roads, cut in the cost of production, stimulation of economic growth, and generally improved living standards for the people.

The Lagos State government is developing this intermodal transport through the on-going redevelopment of the Badagry Expressway into a ten-lane modern highway with BRT and light rail facilities, construction of bus terminals, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operation, and reactivation of water transportation, among others.

In the area of water transportation, the state government identified seven corridors for development and mass transportation, which include Ijede-Badore, Badore-Admiralty-Osborne-Marina, Ikorodu-Marina, Ijegun Egba, and so on. Since operations began on the Ikorodu-Marina, Badore-Admiralty-Osborne to Marina, Ijede-Admiralty and Ijegun Egba-Apapa-Marina and other routes, with park and ride system, they have brought immense relief to Lagosians who commute on those routes.

The achievements of the state government so far in the area of rail transport are equally commendable. Currently, expectation remains high as the blue-line light-rail project, which is expected to change the face of public transportation in the commercial city of Lagos, is making appreciable progress on the Lagos-Badagry road corridor.

The light rail, designed to run from Okokomaiko to Marina, is estimated to lift an average of 400,000 passengers daily with stop-over at Mile 2, Alaba, Orile-Iganmu and the National Arts Theatre.

On the whole, the project is designed to have a total of 12 stations, but currently undergoing construction is the first phase of seven kilometres from Iganmu to Okokomaiko with about five stations. The track-laying for the first phase has reached the Mile 2 end of the road from Orile-Iganmu. Also currently receiving finishing touches are the rail stations at Orile and Mile 2, where passengers will do the check-in and check-out. The stations are designed to host mini shopping malls where passengers will be able to do small shopping while waiting to board the train.

The rail’s added advantage is cheaper fare compared with what is presently charged by unregulated commercial bus operators on that route. Aside from this, the rail is conceived to encourage the use of public transport as a lot more vehicles are expected to be taken off thereby decongesting Lagos roads and reducing the level of vehicular emissions in the densely populated city.

While we commend the initiatives and efforts of Lagos government, we also harp on the need to sustain the current tempo of activities in the state, especially as a new government prepares to take over in May, all things being equal. We equally urge all other states to explore other modes of transportation to ease mobility of people and goods across spaces.