Development of Maintenance Management Model for Sustainable Infrastructure Performance of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Stations for Dar Es Salaam Region
Abstract
In response to escalating transportation challenges driven by rapid urbanisation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city and economic hub, the Government of Tanzania launched the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in 2016 to alleviate traffic congestion, enhance urban mobility, and promote sustainable public transportation infrastructure. However, the long-term sustainability of the BRT system hinges on effective maintenance to ensure operational reliability. This study aimed to develop a maintenance management model to enhance the sustainability of BRT station infrastructure in Dar es Salaam. Employing a quantitative approach, data from 32 BRT stations were analysed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank 12 maintenance factors. 7 high-impact maintenance factors were identified, with Platform Surface Condition Management (RII = 0.963) and Drainage Water Management (RII = 0.956) as top priorities. A multiple regression model was developed to predict the Sustainable Infrastructure Performance Index (SIPI), achieving strong explanatory power (R² = 0.792). Validation across six stations with diverse maintenance scenarios confirmed the model’s sensitivity and accuracy, with SIPI scores ranging from 20% to 88%. The findings provide a robust, data-driven framework for optimising BRT maintenance, enabling DART operators to prioritise high-impact factors, predict infrastructure performance, and allocate resources efficiently, which in turn, contribute to sustainable urban transportation solutions in Dar es Salaam.
Downloads
References
Adeel, A., Notteboom, B., Yasar, A., Scheerlinck, K., & Stevens, J. (2021). Sustainable streetscape and built environment designs around brt stations: A stated choice experiment using 3D visualizations. Sustainability, 13(12), 6594.
Chengula, D., & Kombe, K. (2017). Assessment of the effectiveness of Dar Es Salaam bus rapid transit (DBRT) system in Tanzania. International Journal of Science, 36, 10-30.
Deng T., & Nelson J.D. (2012). The impact of bus rapid transit on land development: A case study of Beijing's BRT line 1. World Transport Policy & Practice.
Kimaro E., Mrema G.C., & Mlay V.S.J. (2021). Challenges facing public transport systems: A case study of Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). African Journal of Transport Studies.
King, R. (2013). Four Ways Cities Benefit from Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). World Resource Institute. Available online: https://www.wri.org/insights/4-ways-cities-benefit-bus-rapid-transit-brt (accessed on 18th February, 2025).
Krüger, F., Titz, A., Arndt, R., Groß, F., Mehrbach, F., Pajung, V., ... & Wimmer, L. (2021). The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dar es Salaam: A pilot study on critical infrastructure, sustainable urban development and livelihoods. Sustainability, 13(3), 1058.
Mchome, E. E., & Nzoya, U. W. (2023). Users’ Perception on Operation and Performance of Public Transport Systems in African Developing Countries: The Case of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 13(12), 2408-2420.
Mwatawala, S. W. (2019). Assessment of passengers’ satisfaction with bus rapid transit: the case of Dar Es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART).
Mwesigwa, L., Yin, Z., & Farber, S. (2024). Evaluating the level of access and equity of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system: The case of Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Journal of Transport Geography, 119, 103953.
Ohuei, A., Mwakalebela, J., & Kimaro, H. (2025). Impact of maintenance engineering on sustainable asset management in urban transport systems. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 10(9), 768–775.
Okoro, C., Mokoena, B., & Ndlovu, T. (2022). Assessing the role of planning in BRT sustainability: A South African perspective. University of Johannesburg Institutional Repository.
Olagunju A.O., Adeyemi A.O., & Olaniyan T.A. (2020). Sustainability challenges in Lagos Bus Rapid Transit: An assessment of infrastructure maintenance practices. Journal of Urban Mobility Studies.
Ramiya, R., & Suresh, M. (2021). Factors influencing lean-sustainable maintenance practices in public infrastructure. Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India): Series C, 102(6), 1395–1404.
Shbeeb, L. (2023). Traffic and environmental impacts of constructing and operating a BRT service: Case study in Amman, Jordan. Cogent Engineering, 10(2), 2283316.
Soomro, R., Memon, I. A., Pathan, A. F. H., Mahar, W. A., Sahito, N., & Lashari, Z. A. (2022). Factors that influence travelers’ willingness to adopt bus rapid transit (Green Line) service in Karachi. Sustainability, 14(16), 10184.
Tengecha, N., & Mwendapole, M. (2021). The Challenges and Opportunities of Dar es Salaam City Bus Rapid Transit on Implementation and Operations. Developing Country Studies, 11(7), 27-35.
Van der Merwe R., & Joubert J.W. (2019). Predictive maintenance strategies using IoT technologies: Evidence from Cape Town's MyCiTi BRT system. Transportation Research Procedia.
Vergel-Tovar, C. E. (2023). Understanding barriers and opportunities for promoting transit-oriented development with bus rapid transit in Bogotá and Quito. Land Use Policy, 132, 106791.
Wood, A. (2014). Moving policy: Global and local characters circulating bus rapid transit through South African cities. Urban Geography, 35, 1238–1254.
Worrall, L., Colenbrander, S., Palmer, I., Makene, F., Mushi, D., Mwijage, J., ... & Godfrey, N. (2017). Better urban growth in Tanzania: preliminary exploration of the opportunities and challenges.
Zottis, L., & Tavares, V. (2015). The 7 Features of a Successful BRT Station. World Resource Institute. Available online: https://thecityfix.com/blog/seven-features-successful-brt-station-luisa-zottis-virginia-bergamaschi-tavares/ (accessed on 18th February, 2025).
Copyright (c) 2025 Wahabu Yahaya Nyamzungu, Joseph Mkilania
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
