Urban Transport Development as a Strategic Traffic Management Approach: Case Study Thika -nairobi Super Highway

Abstract

Economic recovery strategy for capital and employment creation 2003-2007 recognized transportation as a pillar of economy recovery effort. According to Finnish transport agency, (2010) strategy takes into account organizational change, national strategy for intelligent transport management and the existing challenges concerning transport system development. Based on customer needs and transport demand, the strategy highlights the impact of traffic management services and function in different parts of the road network. Eddington, (2006) States that, an effective transport system can help aid country‟s economy to effectively respond to structural changes while minimizing economic impact by promoting commuter travel. The transport industry provides the services at a minimal cost to the society which has a collateral negative impact to the environment and society. KARA, (2012). The study aimed to illustrate causes of traffic congestion and effective solutions on our highways in respect to economic development and conservation of the environment. This study will help improve the transport sector as well as policy development, improved infrastructure and new transportation theories. In practice, the study aims to ensure that total cost of infrastructure is reduced and at the same time reduce congestion and help in the conservation of the environment. The aim is to ensure that feasible investments of infrastructure are properly planned and of high standards that it does not cause strain to the environment. Reduce transportation cost and cost of living and in general reduce congestion and increase flow. In policy, the study aimed to ensure proper and strict policy aimed at reduction of congestion, accidents and regulate emission. Urban traffic congestion an aftermath of decision made on margin of choice. To increase the theory usefulness, policy application is needed to develop a variety of models that focus on the disregarded margin of choice. Richard, (2001). Sustainable development is a change process with use of resources; investment direction and technical process direction are in accompaniment and provide current and future opportunities to satisfy human wants. Sustainable development needs to fulfill the expectations of all stakeholders by increasing productivity through effective road use, with concurrent reduction in the usage of natural resources and at the same time observe policy of the environment protection Act. In theory and academia, the study aims to help scholars understand important aspects of traffic congestion in Kenya and help them theorize and implement concepts that will in turn help in forecasting congestion traffic patterns. Considering that this study is qualitative in nature, descriptive analysis was used by the researcher to scrutinize the replies acquired from the questionnaires. Qualitative suggests that stress on the quality, processes and meaning not measured or observed in terms of quantity, amount, intensity, or occurrence. Qualitative methods allow detailed analysis bearing in mind the kind of data envisioned as per the questionnaires. After all the questionnaires have been filled and collected back, the researcher conducted descriptive analysis with the help of SPSS (version 22) to provide an analysis of the demographic information collected. The process included an analysis of frequencies and percentages of the answers given by the respondents