In an increasingly urbanized world, efficient urban mobility has become a major challenge to ensure smooth travel, reduce congestion, and improve citizens’ quality of life. Well-planned and executed mobility not only facilitates daily commuting but also stimulates the local economy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and creates more liveable and sustainable cities. To meet these contemporary challenges, it is imperative to understand how the different components of urban mobility interact and harmonize to provide tailored solutions.
Local institutions play a key role in the planning and implementation of urban mobility. As key actors in urban management, they are responsible for the development of transport infrastructure, traffic regulation, optimization of public transport networks, and promotion of sustainable modes of transport such as walking, Bicycles, and electric vehicles. Their direct involvement and deep knowledge of local needs and specificities enable them to design and implement adapted and effective mobility solutions. In addition, a collaboration between local institutions and other stakeholders such as citizens, businesses, and non-governmental organizations is essential to ensure an integrated and inclusive approach to urban mobility. In short, the commitment and capacity of local institutions are fundamental elements in addressing the challenges related to urban mobility and building resilient, accessible, and sustainable cities.

1.   Context of Urban Mobility

Definition of Urban Mobility and its Specific Issues in African Cities

Urban mobility refers to how people move within urban areas, encompassing various modes of transport such as cars, public transport, bicycles and walking. It aims to ensure accessibility, fluidity and efficiency of travel while minimising environmental impact. In African cities, urban mobility presents specific challenges due to the rapid growth of the urban population, accelerated urbanisation, and often insufficient or poorly adapted transport infrastructure. Unique challenges include road congestion, lack of reliable public transport, limited transport infrastructure, and growing environmental concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions. African cities also face issues of road safety and unequal access to transport services, which disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations.

Growing Needs in Urban Transport Planning and Management

With rapid urbanization and population growth, the needs for urban transportation planning and management are constantly increasing. Local institutions must anticipate and respond to these growing needs by developing urban mobility plans that take into account local specificities and future challenges.

It is essential to develop integrated and sustainable transport systems that promote intermodality, allowing residents to easily switch between transport modes. Planning should include adequate public transport infrastructure, safe cycle paths, accessible sidewalks, and policies that encourage the use of low-emission vehicles.

Moreover, effective urban transport management requires close coordination between different stakeholders, including local authorities, transport companies, urban planners and the community. The use of innovative technologies, such as real-time traffic management systems and mobility applications, can also play an important role in improving urban mobility and meeting the growing needs of African cities.

2.   Role of Local Institutions

What are the Responsibilities of Local Institutions in Urban Mobility?

Local institutions, such as municipalities and regional governments, play a key role in planning, managing and optimizing urban mobility. Their responsibilities include:

• Transportation Planning: Local institutions are responsible for developing urban mobility plans that meet the present and future needs of citizens. This includes designing efficient public transportation networks, creating bike lanes and sidewalks, and integrating different modes of transportation to ensure seamless intermodality.
• Infrastructure Development: They are responsible for building and maintaining transportation infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, metro stations and bus stops. They must also ensure that these infrastructures are accessible and safe for all users, including people with reduced mobility.
• Traffic Regulation: Traffic management is another key responsibility. Local institutions must put in place regulation systems to minimise congestion, improve the flow of movement and ensure road safety. This may include managing traffic lights, enforcing parking rules and establishing pedestrian zones.
• Promotion of Sustainable Modes of Transport: They also have the mission of promoting the use of sustainable modes of transport, such as walking, cycling and electric vehicles. This can be done through awareness campaigns, financial incentives and the creation of dedicated infrastructure.
• Citizen Consultation and Participation: Local institutions must involve citizens in the planning and development process.
• Decision-making. This ensures that urban mobility solutions meet the real needs of the population and enjoy broad community support.

Legal and Regulatory Mandates that Support Them

The responsibilities of local institutions in urban mobility are often supported by specific legal and regulatory mandates, which define their powers and obligations:

• National and Regional Legislation: In many countries, national and regional laws establish the regulatory frameworks for urban transport planning and management. These laws define the powers of local institutions, safety and accessibility standards, and sustainable development obligations.
• Municipal Regulations: Municipalities can adopt their own regulations to manage specific aspects of urban mobility, such as low-emission zones, parking restrictions and public transport policies. These regulations are adapted to local needs and priorities.
• Urban Development Policies: Urban development plans often integrate sustainable mobility strategies, setting out directions for the growth of transport infrastructure and the promotion of green transport modes. These policies provide a roadmap for actions by local institutions.
• Environmental guidelines: Environmental regulations impose obligations on local institutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices. These guidelines encourage the adoption of green technologies and low-impact transportation solutions.

In sum, local institutions play a central role in urban mobility, supported by a legal and regulatory framework that enables them to plan, develop and manage urban transport systems effectively, while meeting the growing needs of urban populations and promoting environmental sustainability.

• Needs Assessment: The first step involves assessing the mobility needs of the urban population. This includes analyzing demographic data, travel trends, and the current state of transportation infrastructure. Modeling tools and user surveys can help identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Goal Definition: Based on the needs assessment, local institutions set clear and measurable goals for urban mobility. These objectives may include reducing travel times, improving accessibility, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting sustainable transportation modes.
• Scenario Development: Various development scenarios are created to explore different approaches to urban mobility. Each scenario is evaluated based on its potential impact on the defined objectives, as well as its economic and technical feasibility.
• Public Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement: Public consultation is crucial to ensure that urban mobility plans address the expectations and needs of citizens. Stakeholders, including residents, businesses, NGOs, and transportation experts, are involved through workshops, public meetings, and online surveys.
• Plan Design: Based on the results of the consultations and evaluated scenarios, a detailed urban mobility plan is designed. This plan includes specific proposals for transportation infrastructure, regulatory policies, and initiatives to promote sustainable transportation modes.
• Implementation: Once the plan is finalized, local institutions proceed with its implementation. This involves the construction of necessary infrastructure, adoption of the proposed regulations and policies, and the establishment of awareness programs to encourage the adoption of new transportation modes.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation are crucial components of the planning process. The performance of the urban mobility system is regularly assessed against the defined objectives, and adjustments are made as necessary to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Public consultation and stakeholder participation are essential elements for successful urban mobility planning. These processes help ensure that decisions made reflect the needs and priorities of the community, and that they have broad support.

• Early Engagement: Involving stakeholders early in the planning process allows for the collection of ideas, concerns and suggestions, which enriches the planning process decision-making and improves the quality of the plans developed.
• Transparency and Communication: Transparency in communicating planning objectives, methods and results builds trust between local institutions and citizens. A variety of communication tools, such as websites, social media and newsletters, can be used to keep the community informed.
• Participatory methods: The use of participatory methods, such as co-design workshops, focus groups, and surveys, allows for the collection of diverse contributions and fosters constructive dialogue. These methods help identify innovative solutions and ensure that mobility plans are inclusive and equitable.
• Continuous Feedback: Continuous collection of user feedback after the implementation of mobility projects allows for adjusting and improving solutions based on user feedback. This ensures continuous improvement and adaptation to the changing needs of the urban population.

4. Project execution and management

Methods of implementing urban transport projects

Executing urban transportation projects requires a structured and methodical approach to ensure that planned initiatives are implemented effectively and efficiently. Here are some key methods used for executing urban transportation projects:

• Project Management: Using proven project management practices is essential for the success of urban transport projects. This includes clearly defining objectives, detailed task planning, allocating resources, and rigorously monitoring progress. Project management methodologies such as PMBOK, PRINCE2 or Agile can be adapted to meet the specific needs of transport projects.
• Project Phasing: Urban transportation projects are often complex and large-scale. Dividing them into phases or stages makes it easier to manage their execution. Each phase can have its own objectives and deliverables, making it easier to monitor and adjust actions along the way.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): PPPs are often used to finance and implement urban transport projects. These partnerships leverage financial resources and technical expertise from the private sector while ensuring public control over essential infrastructure and services.
• Performance Contracts: Using performance contracts, where payments are tied to the achievement of specific results, can encourage contractors to meet deadlines, budgets and quality standards. These contracts typically include indicators key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of work.
• Technologies and Innovations: The integration of advanced technologies, such as real-time traffic management systems, smart mobility applications, and modeling and simulation tools, can improve the planning and execution of transportation projects. These technologies enable better coordination and rapid response to emerging issues.

Managing transport infrastructure and related services is an ongoing task that requires constant attention to ensure their proper functioning and sustainability. Here are some key practices in this area:

• Preventative Maintenance: Implementing preventive maintenance programs is essential to extend the life of transportation infrastructure and prevent breakdowns. This includes regular inspections, early repairs, and replacing aging components before they become problematic.
• Asset Management: Effective asset management includes inventory and ongoing assessment of transportation infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, railways and stations. Asset management systems (AMS) can be used to track the condition of infrastructure and plan necessary investments.
• Operations Optimization: The management of transit operations, road networks and related services must be optimized to maximize efficiency and minimize disruptions. This may include the use of traffic management systems, real-time user communication platforms, and incident management strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration with stakeholders, including users, local businesses and regulators, is crucial for effective management of transport infrastructure. Feedback from users can help identify problems and improve services.
• Staff Support and Training: Well-trained and competent staff are essential for managing transportation infrastructure. Continuing training and professional development programs can help maintain a high level of competence and motivation among employees.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Continuous monitoring of the performance of transport infrastructure and services is necessary to detect problems and measure the effectiveness of interventions. Data collection tools and indicators of key performance indicators can be used for this monitoring.

• Impact of Local Political Decisions

Local political decisions were crucial to the initial success of LRT. Strong government support, combined with significant investment and integrated planning, has helped overcome many initial obstacles. However, ongoing management requires supportive policies and adequate funding to ensure the sustainability of the service.

• Impact of Local Political Decisions

Local authorities have recognized the need for an integrated transportation system and have taken steps to develop BRT. However, inter-agency coordination and long-term planning are essential to overcome persistent challenges and achieve meaningful progress.

Local political decisions have a profound impact on urban mobility, influencing the planning, execution and management of transport projects.

Here are some examples of their impact:

• Financing and Investments: Local policies often determine the level of funding allocated to urban mobility projects. Adequate financial support enables the construction and maintenance of necessary infrastructure, such as BRT and LRT systems. For example, in Addis Ababa, government financial support was essential for the launch of LRT.
• Transport Regulations and Policies: Policy decisions regarding transport regulations can facilitate or hinder the development of efficient transport systems. In Johannesburg, favourable regulations have enabled the successful implementation of the Rea Vaya system.
• Coordination and Integration: Coordination between different agencies and levels of government is crucial for effective transport planning. In Nairobi, inter-agency coordination and integration of various transport modes remain challenges.
• Stakeholder Participation: Involving stakeholders, including citizens and businesses, in the decision-making process can improve the acceptance and success of urban mobility projects. Public consultations and dialogues with informal transport operators helped to adjust plans in Johannesburg and Nairobi.
• Support for sustainable transportation: Local policies that promote sustainable transportation, such as bicycles and electric vehicles, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve quality of life. Cities that adopt proactive policies to promote these modes of transportation often see significant improvements in urban mobility.

This article highlights the critical role of local institutions in planning and implementing urban mobility in Africa. We discussed the importance of efficient urban mobility to improve travel fluidity, reduce congestion, and increase quality of life. Local institutions are essential, being responsible for infrastructure, traffic regulation and promoting sustainable modes of transport.