The Senegalese capital, Dakar, and its suburbs witnessed the inauguration of a network of 100% electric buses on Wednesday, aimed at revolutionizing mobility in the congested metropolis, as observed by an AFP journalist.
Stéphane Volant, the president of operator Dakar Mobilité, assured AFP that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is unparalleled in Africa, featuring electric buses operating on dedicated lanes in a city plagued by near-permanent traffic congestion.
“It’s comfortable, safe, and, above all, fast,” said Ramata Sow, a 28-year-old merchant, one of the first passengers on these brand-new, spacious, and air-conditioned buses.
Moctar Sadio, a 50-year-old university professor, noted the contrast with some of the other modes of transportation: “It stands out from the conventional public transports that do not adhere to traffic regulations,” he said. “I never thought I’d arrive at Petersen (in the city center) so early,” he rejoiced.
The Dakar region accounts for a quarter of the national population, with nearly 4 million inhabitants today and an anticipated 5 million by 2030, along with the majority of economic activity and 70% of registered vehicles, according to the Executive Council of Urban Transport of Dakar (Cetud), the transport organizing authority of Greater Dakar.
The number of vehicles in the automotive fleet increases at an annual rate of 10%. Cetud predicts that travel volume will double within 20 years.
The BRT is part of a mass transit development strategy promoted by the former presidency. Senegal inaugurated a rapid train (TER) at the end of 2021, covering 36 km between downtown Dakar and the new city of Diamniadio, significantly improving the lives of many suburban commuters.
The BRT construction commenced in 2020 under former President Macky Sall. Although he inaugurated it in January, he left office before its commercial operation.
The service rollout will be gradual, ultimately serving 300,000 passengers per day between Guédiawaye and the capital’s center, spanning 18 km of lanes along a route traveled daily by numerous Senegalese.
Currently, only 14 of the 25 stations are operational. The BRT facilities suffered severe damage during the political unrest of recent years.
“In comparison, the TER serves 50,000 passengers daily. The BRT will replace tens of thousands of cars each day. This will dramatically contribute to decongesting the city,” stated Mr. Volant.
The project, costing 420 billion CFA francs (640 million euros), received financial support from the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the UN Green Climate Fund.
The Senegalese government awarded the operation and maintenance of the BRT to Dakar Mobilité for 15 years, a Senegalese company owned 70% by French Meridiam and 30% by Senegal’s Sovereign Strategic Investment Fund (Fonsis). The concessionaire purchased buses and charging stations from Chinese state-owned company CRRC.
The developers promise a reduction of 60,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, as traffic is one of the primary sources of pollution in the urban area.