Revitalization of Greater Khartoum Urban Transportation System

Greater Khartoum, Sudan (8X106 inhabitants), depends only on a vehicular road transport System. Mass transport systems are completely absent making Khartoum falling short of meeting citizens’ mobility demand. Passengers remain waiting long at transport stations to get a seat. Slow traffic speed and severity of traffic congestion and jams result in high fuel consumption, repeated traffic accidents and air pollution. This situation is attributed to use of small-sized vehicles running on limited paved road network, adoption of extensive grid iron planning patterns lacking multi-grade road intersections, erosion of public transport fleet driven by fuel-oil, and overcrowded urban centres. Planners’ negligence of public transportation systems when formulating landuse plans while continuously adopting low rate population density and grid patterns complicated urban transport revitalisation for no space is left for large transport capacity infrastructure construction and existence of solid physical blocks obstructing traffic flows. To better the situation, Khartoum urban transport systems must be rehabilitated and efficiently operated by a talented transport corporation supported by strong legislation and popular authorization and able to install and run mass transport systems including trains, river transport, rapid buses transit and trams. This paper covers all Khartoum urban transport components, focusing on large capacity transport systems, particularly, river transport. River transport suits Khartoum for Nile Rivers dominate the metropolis and form the Key urban configuration features. Rivers direct urban growth, impose urban expansions patterns, shape urban form and influence spatial organization. While they divide the three cities spatially they link them visually and functionally. However, river transport importance lies in its economic feasibility and largest carrying capacity. It is also: • Safe and almost accident free • Easy to operate: no territory acquisition and no need for construction of roads and bridges • Generating less pollution while adding new tourist activities • It serves the important places adjacent to Nile shores targeted by passengers. The other urban transport revitalisation components include establishing Rapid Bus Transit System, Light Rail Transit System as well as protecting the environment and attaining traffic safety through: • Reviewing traffic laws, intensifying public awareness and enforcing tough regulations • Developing operation mechanisms including introduction of modern technologies and applications to control congestion, accidents and pollution