About 145 Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) application documents have been approved by the Lagos State Government, in its determination to transformation the transport sector, ensure safety of lives and improve service delivery.
Traffic Impact Assessment report is supposed to be obtained by all commercial, residential, religious homes, recreational centres and institutional centres to determine the traffic impact of their land use and plan for mitigating same.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salaam told reporters in his office on Monday that this was part of the holistic measures put in place by the present administration to tackle transportation planning and give Lagosians a new transportation experience.
The Permanent Secretary opined that since Lagos population is growing 10 times faster than the population of New York, Los Angeles and 32 African countries combined, the growth rate plus the chaotic character of the urban transport system led to the Traffic Impact Assessment study, especially for commercial buildings, residential buildings particularly high rise with more than five floors, event centres, petrol/gas stations and place of worship.
According to him, the TIA aids the generation of data for transport planning policy and implementation, as well as traffic volume count, road safety audit review as well as origin and destination survey.
He said 188 applications was received from commercial, residential, institutional and recreational bodies and churches in the last four years, for the issuance of Traffic Impact Assessment reports land use, out of which 145 were processed and approved.
He further disclosed that the traffic impact report which aim at assessing the effect of any proposed development on traffic and transport network in the immediate and distant environment, is carried out in assisting public agencies in making land use decisions on such projects as well as its effects on the existing traffic and surrounding land users.
Salaam explained further that the study varies in their range, details and complexity with reference to size, type and location of the development, he added that the study also assist in the evaluation of traffic/volume to determine improvements needed to accommodate proposed developments, update of traffic data and design needed for access point.
The Permanent Secretary affirmed that the appraisal of TIA reports sometimes reveals the need to mitigate the negative impacts of most proposed development, adding 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.
Salaam said the TIA has helped in proffering solutions to some 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).
The Permanent Secretary further revealed that the application for TIA clearance permit comes from the Ministry of Transportation after a three weeks study of the traffic effect of such project.