The government is considering dedicated traffic lanes for Aayalolo buses during peak hours as part of plans to make public transport in Accra faster, more reliable and attractive to commuters.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, said the proposed system would allow Aayalolo buses to bypass heavy traffic during peak periods, reducing travel delays and improving the efficiency of the service.
The proposal was made during the Minister’s visit to the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive, where he engaged officials on measures to strengthen the operations of the Aayalolo bus system.
Mr Ayariga said the initiative would require consultations with the Ministries of Roads and Highways, Transport and the Interior to determine suitable routes and how the dedicated lanes could be implemented.
Under the proposed arrangement, Aayalolo buses could be given access to dedicated lanes on selected roads, with the lanes adjusted according to the direction of peak-hour traffic.
The Minister said giving buses priority on congested routes would help reduce the amount of time they spend in traffic and cut fuel consumption, improving the financial sustainability of the service.
“The principle of a special route for you so that you don’t spend time in traffic and then burn fuel in traffic and therefore be able to recover your cost, that is something also that we need to look at,” he said.
He said authorities would need to map Accra and examine existing traffic patterns and Aayalolo routes before determining how best to establish the system.
Mr Ayariga believes a more predictable travel time could encourage more motorists to leave their private vehicles at home and switch to public transport.
“If the people know they can sit in Aayalolo and get to work in 20 minutes, and then sit in Aayalolo and get home in 20 minutes, trust me, they will leave their cars and join you,” he said.
He therefore called for collaboration between the relevant institutions, including the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), to assess how Aayalolo could be transformed into a rapid public transport system.
The Minister said improving the speed and reliability of Aayalolo would not only benefit commuters but could also contribute to efforts to reduce congestion on Accra’s roads.
The proposed dedicated-lane system is expected to form part of broader efforts to improve public transportation and make mass transit a more competitive alternative to private vehicle use in the capital.
