Tuesday, December 16, 2008

LAGOS URBAN RAIL MASS TRANSIT (LRMT) SCHEME FROM IDDO TO IJOKO


The Light Rail Mass Transit scheme is a proposal to introduce a Light Rail Transit System within the existing Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) corridor from Iddo in Lagos State to Ijoko in Ogun State. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between LAMATA and NRC was signed in 2006, to grant access to the 100 ft of NRC right-of-way required for the construction of the LRMT line.

The scheme is approximately 35-kilometre in length with an estimated ridership of a minimum of 500,000 passengers per day. The following fourteen (14) station locations are proposed:

* Ijoko

* Mushin

* Agbado

* Jibowu

* Iju

* Yaba

* Agege

* Ebute Metta

* Ikeja

* Iddo

* Shogunle

* National Theatre

* Oshodi

* Apapa

On May 15, 2007, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, officially performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the LRMT scheme.
Financing

The Lagos Mega City Development Authority is undertaking the LRMT scheme from Iddo to Ijoko as a priority project for implementation within the mega-city. The LRMT scheme is being financed by the Federal Government (45%), Lagos State Government (40%), and Ogun State Government (15%)

MILE 2 TO OJO/OKOKOMAIKO LAGOS URBAN RAIL NETWORK (LURN) “BLUE” SCHEME

The Mile 2 to Ojo/Okokomaiko scheme is a conceptualised innovative rail transit system for the Badagry Expressway in Lagos State. This scheme is planned for implementation in two stages. Stage 1 of this scheme, is a 16-kilometre east to west rail line between Ojo and Mile 2 with the following six (6) proposed train stations

* Ojo
* Okokomaiko
* LASU
* Trade Fair
* Festac
* Mile 2

A future extension of an additional 21-kilometre and four train stations terminating in Marina is also being considered for stage 2 of the scheme.
The benefits of the scheme include as follows:

* Re-establish and enhance the attractiveness of rail transport as an integral alternative mode of transport

* Help to alleviate the existing traffic problems currently associated with the Lagos metropolitan roadway network along the Badagry Expressway by providing additional passenger transport capacity.

* Achieve a travel time of 23 minutes during the busy peak traffic periods (between Mile 2 and Okokomaiko).

* Boost economic activities in an area of the state already renowned as the major commercial centre in the West African region.

* Create a reduction for the demand of approximately 13,000 Danfo vehicles along the corridor.