Latest news with #BRT
Axios
an hour ago
- Business
- Axios
Durham unveils initial bus rapid transit plans
Following in the footsteps of Raleigh and Chapel Hill, Durham has unveiled initial plans for adding a bus rapid transit line through the center of the city. Why it matters: With dreams of light rail and commuter rail across the Triangle seemingly quashed, officials in the region have increasingly turned their eyes toward bus rapid transit as a way to improve transit options. Bus rapid transit is cheaper than rail and similar to traditional bus service, but provides bus-only lanes and preferred traffic lights to improve speed, increases frequency and adds larger stations. Plus, it aims to reduce car usage, and it can be integrated into existing infrastructure. Driving the news: The initial sketch of Durham's BRT plans includes a 7-mile route, stretching from Duke University Hospital on the west side of the city, through downtown and onto the Wellons Village shopping center in East Durham. Importantly, BRT would follow the most popular routes already existing for GoDurham, which has the second most ridership of any bus system in the state, according to Sean Egan, director of Durham's transportation department. Buses going from East Durham to downtown and downtown to the hospital already travel in 15-minute intervals and are often crowded, Egan said. The city is asking residents for feedback on the plans here. The other side: There has been some opposition to BRT in North Carolina, with some residents in Raleigh concerned over its potential to cause gentrification. In Charlotte, surveyed residents have opposed it over costs and a dislike of buses compared to light rail. Reality check: Durham's plans, which took about a year to draft, are still in the earliest stages and remain years away from breaking ground, like Raleigh is set to do in the coming weeks. These initial plans are part of a feasibility study designed to see how well an application would score for federal funding. Egan believes it would score well since it would provide service to large job centers, as well as economic development opportunities around Wellons Village. But at the same time, Egan noted, there are many projects already in the federal pipeline ahead of Durham, and it's unclear if scoring criteria for funding will change under the Trump administration. Zoom in: Part of the initial design process is built around the idea that Durham's BRT line might have to be completely locally funded, Egan said, through local partners and the transit tax county residents pay.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
JI launches tree-plantation drive
KARACHI: In a bid to tackle the growing climate crisis and environmental degradation in Karachi, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi has launched a city-wide plantation campaign titled 'Let's Make Karachi Green,' aiming to plant 100,000 saplings across the megacity. The initiative was formally launched on Wednesday in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, where JI Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar, along with Town Chairman Dr Fawad planted the first sapling of the campaign. Speaking to the media, Zafar emphasised that the campaign was part of a broader climate strategy led by JI to counter rising temperatures, urban heat, and deteriorating air quality in the city. 'Karachi was once known for its 'cold roads' lined with trees,' he recalled. 'Now, in many areas, we're left with nothing but concrete jungle. It is our responsibility to restore greenery and bring back Karachi's lost environment.' He said that the drive would be implemented across all towns under the supervision of local chairmen and union councils to ensure meaningful and sustained impact. Criticizing the Sindh government for what he termed as 'environmental negligence,' the JI leader questioned the fate of 50,000 trees promised by the provincial administration. 'Where is the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency? What happened to their commitments?' He also slammed the government for chopping down trees during Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects without adequate re-plantation efforts. 'Development should not come at the cost of ecological collapse.' Highlighting the party's recent contributions, Monem Zafar said that JI had restored over 155 public parks during the past two years and introduced innovative ideas such as roadside jungles, urban forests, and rainwater harvesting systems to conserve natural resources. The JI leader said Karachi deserves at least Rs500 billion for its development, not just Rs20 billion. We demand a minimum of Rs2 billion for each of the city's towns. He expressed concern over the large number of unsafe structures in the megacity, especially in District South. 'Out of 749 buildings declared dangerous by the Sindh Building Control Authority, 400 are in District South alone. Who allowed 8-storey buildings on 8-yard plots,' he questioned. Zafar pointed out that while the World Health Organisation recommends one tree for every seven individuals. He said Karachi's ratio is shockingly low—estimated at one tree for every 1,000 people. 'This is a wake-up call. The megacity ranks 170 out of 173 in the global livability index. If we don't act now, future generations will suffer even more.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
K-IV project: Murad directs accelerated work on all lots
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a meeting on the K-IV augmentation project, insisted that the work on all lots must be speeded up with high quality, particularly on Lots 1 and 2 in September. The meeting was attended by Minister Local Govt Saeed Ghani (on video link), Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, Secretary Local Govt Waseem Shamshad, PD K-IV Usman Moazzam and others. The K-IV project has been started with the support of the World Bank. During the briefing, the CM was told Key highlights from the meeting include the transmission of water from Reservoir One to the Y junction as part of Lot One. Lot Two will establish a water line from Reservoir Two to Sir Syed University, while Lot Three will lay a water line from Sir Syed University to Gul Bai. Additionally, Lot Four will create a water transmission system from Reservoir Three to Banaras. The K-IV and BRT projects will share a 2.7-kilometre common corridor, featuring water pipelines that measure 96 and 72 inches in diameter. The 96-inch water line will be located near Aziz Bhatti Park and Urdu College, and the 72-inch line will also be established in the area. Notably, the work on the common corridor for K-IV and BRT has already been awarded, with plans to commence in September. The Chief Minister instructed the acceleration of work on the K-IV Augmentation and directed the Chairman of Planning and Development to ensure progress. Furthermore, Murad Ali Shah emphasised the importance of the K-IV Augmentation project. He insisted that the work on all lots must be of high quality, urging Mayor Karachi to pay close attention to the project's standards. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Tshwane metro pushes Lynnwood BRT contractor for revised timelines
An update on the progress of the long-awaited Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) line 2c project, which began in May 2023 and has been plagued by delays, is expected next week. Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the project has not yet been completed due to safety concerns and conflicting statements between the metro and its contractor. 'The city is awaiting the revised programme from the contractor, and the date for completion will be communicated once it is finalised,' Mashigo said. The line is designed to extend the existing A Re Yeng BRT service to Mamelodi, and as of mid-July, just over 90% of the work has been completed, according to the metro. Mashigo explained that the latest delays stem from challenges in the delivery of materials to the site, for which the city holds the contractor responsible. 'There have been delays in the delivery of materials due to challenges on the contractor's side,' he said. He confirmed that penalties have been imposed on the contractor, as part of measures to enforce accountability for the missed deadlines. Mashigo added that, while there have been no additional costs directly linked to the multiple deadline extensions, the initial extension to replace a section of pipeline did result in increased costs. 'The value of the contract increased from R123-million to R139.9-million following the pipe replacement,' Mashigo explained. One of the issues flagged earlier this year was outstanding design approval for a pipeline section, which previously stalled progress on the project. Mashigo confirmed that the metro has since granted conditional approval, but a few comments still need to be addressed before final sign-off. Motorists may still encounter minor disruptions as traffic accommodation remains in place for safety reasons on Lynnwood Road. In response to complaints from motorists about rubble, broken barriers, and safety hazards on site, Mashigo said the metro continues to address these issues through its contractor. 'Instructions have been issued to the contractor upon receiving complaints through the community liaison officer,' he said. He noted that a physical audit verification was conducted in June to assess the site, and there were no issues identified as the contractor was actively working on site and previous audit findings had been addressed. Mashigo said the metro remains committed to completing the BRT project and ensuring residents benefit from safe, efficient transport infrastructure. 'We are monitoring the project closely and will continue to implement corrective measures where necessary to avoid further delays,' he said. He emphasised the importance of balancing progress with public safety and cost control as work nears its conclusion. In June, contractor Buhle Shabalala disputed claims of worker payment delays, insisting all workers had been fully compensated. He pointed to heavy rains and delayed design approvals from the metro as primary reasons for the missed deadlines. 'It's not true that there were extensions due to non-payment of workers. All of my workers on site are paid,' said Shabalala. 'The delays were due to the time it took to get design approvals and changes in scope.' He also denied allegations of site neglect. Shabalala said rubble was cleared daily and broken barriers had been replaced after storm damage earlier this year. DA councillor Dikeledi Selowa acknowledged that the project was back on track but stressed the importance of improved project management and oversight. 'The issue is poor project management within the metro. These ongoing extensions beyond the initial contract period can potentially lead to extra, unforeseen expenses,' Selowa said. At that stage, she said visible progress had been made and that workers' wages were no longer in dispute. Selowa urged the metro to ensure contractors adhered to their obligations, particularly regarding site safety and timely completion. Residents and motorists in the area are encouraged to remain patient as the metro works with the contractor to finalise outstanding items and prepare for the project's full handover in the coming months. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Arab Times
Meet Pakistan's Futuristic New Metro: Solar-Powered, Trackless, and Smart
LAHORE, July 21: Lahore has just rolled out South Asia's first trackless, solar-powered metro system — an ambitious, high-tech answer to the region's outdated urban transport. Dubbed the Super Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (SRT), this sleek electric vehicle is billed as a 'subway on wheels,' gliding on ordinary roads without the need for expensive tracks or overhead wires. In a futuristic twist, the SRT relies on Virtual Track Technology, using GPS, sensors, and digital mapping to stay on course — all without laying a single rail. Think tram meets Tesla, with zero emissions. A pilot run is already underway near Lahore Airport, drawing curious onlookers and high-level officials from both Pakistan and China — the system's developer. This is the first time such a vehicle has ever hit the roads in South Asia. 'This isn't just a test drive,' said a senior Punjab transport official. 'This is a test for the future of public transport in Pakistan.' A Metro Without the Mess The high-capacity electric buses — capable of carrying 250 to 300 passengers — are set to transform mobility in Punjab and beyond. Unlike conventional metros or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, the SRT and its future cousin, the Automated Rapid Transport (ART) system, don't require tracks or elevated lanes — meaning cheaper builds, quicker rollouts, and no ugly overpasses slicing through cities. The initiative falls under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's five-year transport master plan, which aims to bring smart, solar-powered mobility to 30 cities across the province. 'This isn't just infrastructure,' said Maryam. 'It's a leap toward equitable, green mobility for all citizens.' Phase One: Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala The first phase will roll out in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, with 10 more cities added each year over the next four years. If the Lahore trial proves successful, full-scale operations could begin as early as 2026 — with potential future expansions to Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. A Cleaner, Quieter Commute Aside from its tech credentials, the SRT promises a dramatic social and environmental impact. Each vehicle could replace up to 100 private cars, slashing air pollution, traffic congestion, and noise in Pakistan's smog-choked cities. 'This is about climate justice as much as convenience,' said an official involved in the rollout. 'It's about narrowing urban divides and giving people a cleaner, faster way to move.' The SRT runs like a tram, follows a virtual track with pinpoint precision, yet has the agility of a bus — making it ideal for traffic-clogged, infrastructure-limited cities like Lahore. The future of Pakistani transport, it seems, is arriving quietly… and on rubber wheels.
