Integrating Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) for Sustainable Urban Mobility: A Case Study of Dar es Salaam, Tanzanias Bus Rapid Transit

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital, continues to experience severe urban mobility challenges driven by rapid population growth, increasing motorization, and limited transport infrastructure capacity. These challenges manifest in chronic traffic congestion, environmental degradation, productivity losses, and reduced quality of urban life. The introduction of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system represented a critical intervention aimed at providing high-capacity and affordable public transport. However, despite its success in reducing travel times along key corridors, the system continues to face operational inefficiencies that constrain its long-term sustainability and scalability. This study investigates the potential role of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in enhancing the operational performance and sustainability of the DART BRT system. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a diagnostic assessment of existing operational challenges within DART, a comparative analysis of ITS-enabled public transport systems in selected cities, and a stakeholder-oriented contextual evaluation. Key ITS components examined include Real-Time Passenger Information (RTPI), Automated Fare Collection (AFC), Transit Signal Priority (TSP), and fleet management systems. Based on the findings, the study proposes a phased and context-sensitive ITS integration framework tailored to Dar es Salaam’s socio-economic, institutional, and infrastructural conditions. The results indicate that strategic ITS adoption can significantly improve service reliability, operational efficiency, passenger satisfaction, data-driven decision-making, and financial sustainability, while also contributing to reduced emissions and enhanced social equity. The study concludes that ITS integration should be viewed not merely as a technological enhancement, but as a critical enabler for sustainable urban mobility. The proposed framework offers a replicable model for other rapidly urbanizing cities in Sub-Saharan Africa seeking to modernize public transport systems through intelligent, inclusive, and scalable solutions.