The Influence of Inflexible Work Schedules and Land Use Design on Traffic Congestion in Kigali City

Abstract

Travel demand is still poorly managed in Kigali city. The other research that was done on traffic congestion in Kigali city aimed to regulate the supply side of the problem. However, this study aims to regulate the demand side of traffic congestion on Kimironko- CBD, Nyanza Kicukiro- CBD, and Gisozi- CBD roads in Kigali city where inflexibility of work schedules and land use design were presented as the main issues leading to traffic congestion. The statistical results of the study did not show any strong correlation between the independent variables and the dependent variables because of the limited number of respondents that undermined the relationships and the questionnaire data collected represented peak-period only hence social-economic variables did not show any relationship with travel time as proved by other empirical studies. However, using the data from interviews, questionnaires, ArcGIS Pro, and secondary data, the study shows that there is a significant relationship between inflexible work schedules, land use design, and traffic congestion where departure time choice, commuting distance, land use mix, and connectivity has influenced significantly travel time and level of service. All the 3 roads under study are congested where Gisozi-CBD road is the most congested and Kicukiro-CBD road is the least congested. This study supports the view that traffic congestion can not only be regulated by focusing on the supply side of traffic congestion but balancing both the demand and supply side of the problem. However, travel demand management that aims to reduce unnecessary trips is the pillar to achieve sustainable mobility which focuses on the movement of people and goods rather than the movement of cars.