ABSTRACT

Most of the Arabic capitals cities are suffering from severe traffic congestion as a result of

continuing increase in both road users and private vehicle ownerships. Tripoli capital city of Libya

is one of these cities where majority of the travellers prefer to using private transportation mode

namely own cars which is 88% of the traffic volume for work, study and shop trips. Government

statistical data on the city for October 2009 revealed that out of the total 945,203 vehicles

comprised of 743,796 own cars and 47,031 units of taxis and micro buses. This paper evaluates

traffic characteristics on the three main entrances into the city; the southern entrance covers the AlGabis, Airport Road and Al-Hadaba (Salah Al-Din) entrances; the west entrance includes Al-Giran

entrance; and the east covers Tajora (Al-Bive) entrance. The entrance routes lead to several

downtown roads and main streets in the city, such as two way Omar Al-Mukhtar Street, Mizran

Street, First of September Street at the city centre and Al-Fatah Street along the Tripoli city port.

There are also other old and modern streets traverses in the city centre. As the number of private

cars usage increased, the traffic congestion got more acute. Tripoli streets need to expedite and

support the use of public transportation system namely bus, train and light rail transit into the city.

A questionnaire survey was carried out in Tripoli area to explore the potential reduction of private

cars usage on road through optimal use of suitable public transportation system.

Key words: Traffic volume, traffic congestion, public transport, entrances

Abstract: Own cars are the most common mode of transport in Tripoli, Libya. About 66% of

Tripoli’s residents prefer to use their own cars and only 34% resort to depend on public transports

namely taxi, coaches and microbuses for their transportation activities in the city centre area. Rapid

increase in own cars’ usage, coupled with no public transport system have caused problems such as

acute traffic congestion, an increase in road accidents, deterioration in environmental well being and

unbalanced land use characteristics. A questionnaire survey was carried out in Tripoli to address the

first two of these problems. About 900 respondents were analysed where their needs were observed

and expectations explored. The study has found that the variables to support the use of public

transport system are the reductions in travel time, distance travelled and reasonable fares. The study

also identifies some factors that prevent the users of private cars, taxi, coaches and microbuses from

using the public transportation system, in order to enable the researcher to suggest and formulate

logical policies to support better use of public transportation system.

Key words: Own car, public transport, public transport system, Descriptive and analytical