Public Transportation Interventions: Bus Rapid Transit in Johannesburg, South Africa
Increasing transportation challenges have prompted African cities to prioritize public transportation interventions that appeal to foreign donors. In recent times, several African cities have adopted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems to address the transportation needs of people. The BRTs are strongly supported by the World Bank, one of Africa's key development partners. The World Bank encourages BRT interventions in African cities, based on the successes of Latin American countries. Despite the interest in BRTs, previous studies have overlooked the merits of these foreign-driven BRT interventions in terms of the ease of reach to amenities and the resulting changes in informal public transportation. Using Johannesburg's Rea Vaya BRT system, Oforiwaa Pee Agyei-Boakye argues that in order to evaluate BRT interventions in African cities, accessibility for various population groups in the city and BRT impact on existing informal public transportation must be evaluated, as well as how these outcomes align with the interests of foreign donors.
About the Speaker
Oforiwaa Pee Agyei-Boakye is a mid-career professional with more than a decade of experience in research, business consulting, project management, and urban planning.
She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Her doctoral studies focus on transport politics and accessibility. In her research work, she uses quantitative and qualitative data to address issues regarding the influence of transportation investments on accessibility and how transportation facilitates access to food outlets. She shares her research by writing publications, teaching, and speaking at conferences. Outside of the classroom, Oforiwaa Pee publicly engages the community on her research, improving access to trails, environmental and social justice.