MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR COMBATING TRAFFIC IMPEDANCE IN OSOGBO, AN EVOLVING STATE CAPITALIN NIGERIA.

Abstract

The transportation systems are the veins and arteries of urban areas linking together social and functional zones. Urban productivity therefore is highly dependent on the efficiency of its transport systems to move people and goods. In this wise, the most important problems are often related to urban areas when transport systems, for a variety of reasons, cannot satisfy the numerous requirements of urban mobility. In effect running the city into paralysis. It is therefore very imperative that transport system of an urban area must be efficiently managed. The study is an investigation in to the management measures for combating traffic impedance in Osogbo, an evolving state capital in Nigeria in an attempt to have free flow of traffic in the city. The research work covers a general consideration of traffic and transportation problems in both developed and developing countries. It also covers the examination of the study area, methodology of research, traffic census and the examination of the various traffic impedance factors contributing to the problems of traffic flow in Osogbo. The study was carried out mainly under the theoretical construct of Transportation System Management (TSM) and Transport Demand Management (TDM) and the benefits accruing from effective and meaningful implementation of the concepts. . The research work utilizes the research schedule (a variant of the questionnaire) as the instrument of data collection, while analysis is carried out at the single factor, (through graphs, charts), bivariate (through product moment correlation coefficient), and multivariate (Using Multiple Linear Regression Models) levels. The study carried out traffic counts at different counting stations intersections and activity places to determine and estimate the traffic volume as well as the traffic composition. Research findings on the study show that spatio-temporal variations exist in traffic flows along major routes in Osogbo. Also it was observed that the traffic composition in the city is heterogeneous in nature. The traffic counts at intersections indicates that road traffic impediments is rampant at intersections as the study exposed that there are no traffic lights at intersections as at the time of study. The study revealed that problems of traffic flow is beyond they high number of vehicle population on the roads n the city. Other factors such as street trading, on-street parking, unsignalized intersections, and activities of traffic wardens at intersections were the major traffic impedance factors causing traffic flow problems in the city. Observation study carried out revealed that absence of operational bus sheds for passengers awaiting arrival of vehicles at bus stops left the passengers with no option than to wait by the side of the road to board taxis who incidentally stop abruptly to pick passengers thereby impeding the flow of vehicle. Interview conducted with the Federal Road Safety officials revealed various approaches and management measures adopted to ease traffic flow in the study area. The study discovered that absence of organized parking space in most activity places left the vehicle owners with no option than to park their vehicles on the roadside thereby reducing the width of traffic lane available for moving traffic. The study however recommended town planning legislations and other strategies like parking and loading controls, provision of bus shelters at bus stops, road markings, introduction of high occupancy vehicles and setting up of traffic management authority, and that if the proposals are implemented, all these policy recommendations will ease traffic impedance problems in the city.