Track: Environmental Engineering

Abstract

Public transport is one of the most important ways to help a country drive economic growth and alleviate poverty, but it can also have devastating effects on the environment. Increased rates of habitat loss and fragmentation, erosion, and loss, as well as noise interruptions, contamination, toxic pollutants, vehicle emissions that worsen air quality, and deforestation and habitat destruction, are some of the impacts public transportation has on the environment. The synthesis paper seeks to explore these ecological impacts. This study employed a phenomenological research design to address its goals. Moreover, qualitative data collection was employed. The study population was from Klipspruit Valley Station. The study employed a non-probability sampling strategy. In addition, purposive sampling was used to select the Rea Vaya station that was relevant for the research. Both primary and secondary data sources were employed. The observations done to collect data using ArcGIS and Google Earth as well as through site visit in order to formulate the results and findings constructively. Impacts on ecological factors because of transportation infrastructure, landscape, noise pollution, vibrations and heavy load were observed. Furthermore, Soil pollution by transportation projects and operations impacts were presented. These challenges resulted in traffic congestion, which further caused longer traveling distances and time. Qualitative data was analysed by using content analysis. Images and maps were utilized to depict the observations made on the ground. Therefore, an urban public transport framework that may be used to reduce the ecological impacts of the Bus Rapid Transit system was developed.