Analysis of Intra Urban Traffic Problems in Rivers State: A Study of Port Harcourt Metropolis
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the problem cause by traffic congestion in portharcourt metropolis
- To ascertain the causes of traffic congestion in portharcourt metropolis
- To ascertain the intra Urban traffic problems in portharcourt
- To suggest a solution to intra urban traffic problems in portharcourt metropolis
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Traffic Congestion and Causative Factors
Traffic congestion is a physical phenomenon relating to the manner in which vehicles impede each other’s progression as demand for limited road space approaches full capacity; congestion is a situation in which demand for road space exceeds supply (OECD, 2007). Supporting the OECD (2007) statements is the work of Downie (2008) according to him, traffic congestion “occurs when the volume of vehicular traffic is greater than the available road capacity, a point commonly referred to as saturation.” It is concerned with the corresponding decrease in the capacity of road at a given point and successful increase in the number of vehicles required for the movement of people and goods. Similarly, Ogunbodede (2009) asserted that traffic congestion “occurs when a city’s road network is unable to accommodate the volume of traffic that uses it.” Aworemi et al. (2009) studied traffic congestion in Lagos Metropolis where he noted the following causes of traffic congestion; poor road condition, inadequate road infrastructure, accident, inadequate traffic planning, drivers’ behaviour, and lack of integrated transport system.
Aderamo & Atomode (2011) examined the problem of traffic congestion at road intersections in Ilorin, Nigeria, and discovered that road intersections form a major component of urban roads and are generally prone to traffic congestion. The study also found that “traffic wardens and parking problems are the greatest causes of traffic congestion/delays at road intersections.” Ukpata and Etika (2012) affirmed that, “Poor driving habit is the most significant cause of traffic congestion in Nigerian urban cities.” Other causes of traffic congestion include poor parking habits, poor road network, inadequate road capacity, lack of parking facilities, poor traffic control/management, poor drainage, presence of heavy vehicles, poorly designed junctions/roundabouts, and lack of efficient mass transport system. It is from these causes of traffic congestion that the factors responsible for traffic congestion in our study area were determined, these include; inadequate road network, misuse of the existing roads, inadequate traffic lights, insufficient traffic officials, and several other factors
Road Network Characteristics and Traffic Congestion
Ogunleye (2011) stated that the extent to which a nation’s landmass is covered by road network is an index of the degree of mobility of people, goods and services within the country, and the quality of the network measures the ease and cost of that mobility. Roads dominate the transport sector in most developing countries carrying eighty to ninety per cent of passenger and freight. It plays a critical role in the entire transportation chain in that it connects other modes of transportation and permeates all aspects of modern economic activities in the economy. Ogunleye (2011) examined the topological characteristics of the transportation network in Ekiti State, using the graph theoretic measurement of the Beta (β) index, the Gamma (γ) index, and the Alpha (α) index to determine the connectivity of road networks in the State. The results showed that the connectivity level is low with Beta index 1.39, Gamma index 0.49, and Alpha index 0.24. Obafemi et. al. (2011) also assessed the road network system of Trans-Amadi industrial layout using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The connectivity level in the road network was determined with the use of Beta Index (BI) and the connectivity level of road network was high (0.77) showing that the road network in TransAmadi Industrial Layout was an organized network, which was evenly distributed in the area. To ease traffic flow along the routes, better road network characteristics must be ensured, roads have to be better connected to improve their accessibility, and roads have to be widened to more lanes to increase their carrying capacity (Atubi, 2012). Better road network characteristics would not only lead to a faster flow of traffic along the routes, it would also make for a well-structured road network system and a faster pace at curbing congestion problems in the area of study.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to analysis of intra urban traffic problems in Rivers state: a study of portharcourt metropolis
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on analysis of intra urban traffic problems in Rivers state: a study of portharcourt metropolis. 200 staff of federal road safety corps in portharcourt, Rivers state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain analysis of Intra Urban traffic problems in Rivers state: A study of Port Harcourt Metropolis. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Intra Urban traffic problems in Rivers state
Summary
This study was on Analysis of Intra Urban traffic problems in Rivers state: A study of Port Harcourt Metropolis. Four objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the problem cause by traffic congestion in portharcourt metropolis, to ascertain the causes of traffic congestion in portharcourt metropolis, to ascertain the intra Urban traffic problems in portharcourt and to suggest a solution to intra urban traffic problems in portharcourt metropolis. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of federal road safety in Rivers state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made marshal inspector, rout commander, assistant rout commander and junior officers were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Results of the road network analysis revealed that the road corridor is well connected, this implies that road network connectivity is not a cause of traffic congestion in the study corridor. The cross sectional survey revealed that the factors influencing traffic congestion on the corridor include; over dependence on road as the major mode of transportation, disobeying of traffic laws, inadequate amount of traffic light on the road, and insufficient number of traffic wardens/officials. However, the most significant cause of traffic congestion according to this study is over dependence on road as the main mode of transportation in the metropolis
Recommendation
That measures should be taken to assist private and public urban transport operators in procurement of public transport vehicles, which includes downward review of important exercise duties on these vehicles. Since mobility patterns are also a function of the special distribution of activities and modes of transportation, and tis distribution is frequently influenced by physical planning approach, therefore priority to public transportation and municipal planning on the basis of public transportation should be given an adequate attention in government fiscal planning.
References
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- Atubi, A. (2008). Journey to work pattern in the Niger Delta: An Empirical Analysis of Warri and Environs Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Delta State University, Abraka.
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- Aworemi, et al (2009). A study of the causes, effects, and Ameliorative Measures of Road Traffic Congestion in Lagos Metropolis. European Journal of Social Sciences. II (1), 2009.
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- Downie, A. (2008). The World Worst Traffic Jams time. Available at: http://www.time/world/article/0,8599,1733872,00.html. (Retrieve on 28th May, 2015.
