The DTA group, a design office specializing in land, rail, port, and airport transport infrastructure, has announced the start of a pre-feasibility study for the implementation of a BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) system project in Greater Tunis, the capital and largest city of Tunisia.

This study will examine initiatives for the deployment of a BRT system project in Greater Tunis throughout the capital, with a pilot experience that will link the city center of Tunis to the Berges du Lac Nord and La Goulette / El Kram.

The proposed BRT system project in Greater Tunis is spearheaded by ITES (Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies), a non-administrative public institution endowed with civil personality and financial autonomy, and placed under the supervision of the Presidency of the Republic, in collaboration with the Tunisian Smart Cities association, a prospective association, carrying out the national program of “sustainable and smart cities”, which aims to create a national network of Tunisian cities that want to be “Smart and sustainable cities”.

An alternative to the 28D bus line

According to a press release published by the ITES, the realization of the proposed BRT system aims to offer Tunisians another choice in addition to the 28D bus line. The latter is said to be becoming unsuitable notwithstanding the sprawling growth of this agglomeration of nearly 3 million inhabitants.

It is estimated that the operation of the BRT system, whose initial journey is based on a 15 km stretch with 17 stations for a rolling fleet of 80 buses, should reduce the time between the two ends of the existing bus system from approximately 58 minutes to 18 minutes.

The cost of the implementation of the BRT system project is estimated to be 30 to 40% cheaper than that of a tram system.