… Approves 145 Traffic Impact Assessment Applications
BY: Justice Godfry
Lagos State Government, in its continuous resolve towards the transformation of the transport sector to ensure the safety of lives and improve service delivery, has processed not less than 145 Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) application documents for developers in the State.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salaam, who disclosed this during an interview with newsmen in his office recently, explained that part of the achievements recorded by the present administration is the Transport Impact Assessment Policy.
According to him, 188 applications were received in the last four years for the issuance of traffic impact assessment reports for commercial, residential, institutional and recreational land use which commenced in 2007, out of which 145 were processed and approved.
Salaam opined that since Lagos population is growing ten times faster than the population of New York, Los Angeles and 32 African countries combined together, the growth rate plus the chaotic character of the urban transport system led to the traffic impact assessment study especially for commercial and residential buildings particularly high rise with more than five floors, event centres, petrol/gas stations and places of worship.
He further disclosed that the traffic impact report, which aims at assessing the effect of any proposed development on traffic and transport network in the immediate and distant environment, is carried out to assist public agencies in making land use decisions on projects as well as to ascertain the effects of building construction on the existing traffic and surrounding land users.
The Permanent Secretary averred that the studies vary in their range, details and complexity with reference to size, type and location of the development, adding that the reports also assist in the evaluation of traffic volume to determine improvements needed to accommodate proposed developments, update of traffic data and designs needed for an access point.
He disclosed that the appraisal of TIA reports sometimes reveal the need to mitigate the negative impacts of most proposed developments, noting that such mitigation measures may include the construction of slip roads, provision of additional parking lots, junction improvement and installation of traffic signal lights, where necessary, among other road infrastructures.
Identifying some of the traffic gridlock areas like Lekki/Ikate/Ajah Roundabout, Dopemu Interchange, Mile 12 Market, Ikorodu Road, Alapere Bus-Stop (inwards Lagos), as well as Berger/Oworo (both inward Lagos and inward Alausa), Salaam said the TIA through traffic study conducted has helped in proffering solutions.