The transportation management system in Yangon : a focus on easing the traffic congestion | |
| Author | Zaw Zaw Aye |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. UE-00-10 |
| Subject(s) | Transportation--Myanmar--Yangon Traffic congestion--Myanmar--Yangon |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resource and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Yangon, the capital of Myanmar with a population over 4 million, is located at strategic spot of communication networks. The city has grown rapidly in recent years. Government had been developing new town settlements to decentralize the congested city center. But the provisions of necessary infrastructure are generally inadequate, since most of the urban function and workplaces are still concentrated within the central area. Within the CBD area, the main urban issues are related to the anticipated growth in traffic volumes resulting from steep rise in travel demands, as most of the human activities are concentrated within the central area. At the current growth rate of population and travel demands, traffic delays at key junctions will be more than doubled in five years, unless measures are taken now to ease traffic congestion. The main focus of this study has been to analyze the transportation management system of Yangon in general and to propose and recommend traffic management measures to ease traffic congestion in particular. Questionnaire surveys were conducted on three types of road-users (passengers, drivers and owners) to allow them an opportunity to express their views, attitudes and make suggestion for easing the traffic congestion. Checklist interviews on three concerned people (officials, policemen and experts) who have direct of indirect involvement in traffic management system of Yangon were also conducted to get their opinions and views on management measures for easing the traffic congestion. Basic information in relation to the vehicle population, traffic volumes and growth, travel demands, transportation modes, delays time, condition of traffic congestion, road networks and existing transportation infrastructures, etc. were also collected by reviewing numerous statistical and official documents, reports and field observation. Several outcomes and findings have resulted from the analysis of the collected primary data and secondary data. The findings on the root cause of traffic congestion can be categorized into four parts: (1) improper land use patterns, most of the urban functions (traffic generators) are concentrated and mixed within the central area attracting half of the total passenger trips in Yangon; (2) inadequate and unreliable transport infrastructure, such as lack of bus terminals and off-street parking, inadequate footpaths, improper traffic control and signals, unattractive suburban railway services; (3) limited resources availability for maintaining and improving public transport services, as the revenues from public transport services are not profitable and operators do not want to use their resources to expand the acquisition of additional large vehicles; and (4) weakness of policy measures, as some Els and Rls cannot be enforced in the current condition (such as fines, parking fees, licensing, etc,). The proposed mitigation and management measures for easing traffic congestion contain two parts. The first part contains the proposed pragmatic measures, which are demanded immediately to mitigate as a short-term strategy: (1) traffic circulation and signals; (2) public transport priority plan; (3) providing of off-street parking; and (4) proposed bus terminals. The second part contains proposed policy measures to be applied as medium and long term planning: (1) land uses policy; (2) parking policy; (3) public transport policy; (4) suburban railway policy; (5) traffic management policy; and (6) human resources development policy. Related agencies (government of non-government) need to concertedly and cooperatively to plan, implement, manage and monitor those mitigation measures in order to ease traffic congestion in Yangon. |
| Year | 2001 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Amin, A.T.M. Nural |
| Examination Committee(s) | Zimmermann, Willi ; Pannapa Herabat |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001 |