Browsing by Author "Mekuriaw, Wondem"

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    Performance and Challenges of Zonal Taxi Transport System in Addis Ababa
    (Addis Ababa University, 2012-06) Mekuriaw, Wondem; Alamirew, Bamlaku (PhD)
    In consideration of the importance of transportation for other sectors and the public, Addis Ababa transport branch office has taken several measures to improve the transportation situation of the city. One of the major measures taken by the city transport branch office is zonal taxi transport system. However, anecdotal evidences indicate that problems are plenty such as shortage of taxis, chopping of routes into several segments, charging passengers over normal fares, taxis do not have or invisible root plates, passengers assaulted by taxi drivers and conductors, lose control and coordination of actors, passive participation of actors, vague accountable relationships of actors, poor in providing solution for grievances in time, and others. In fact, whether the system has brought about the desired result is yet to be assessed. Besides, accountability relationship and actors’ participation in the system is nor clearly known. Thus, in line of above gaps, the objectives of the study were to: i) measure the performance of zonal taxi transport system in the city, ii) examine the accountability relationships and actors’ participation, and grievance handling mechanisms, iii) identify challenges that hinder the system from being effective, and iv) suggest recommendation to improve the services. Both qualitative and quantitative data have been utilized. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through questionnaire, unstructured interviews and personal observations. They were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Secondary data were also consulted from published and unpublished documents and reports. The performance of zonal taxi transport system was measured in terms of accessibility, affordability, quality, accountability relationship, participation of actors and grievance handling. Findings of the study indicate that accessibility and quality of zonal taxi transport system is relatively better because of the opening up of new routes, fair distribution of taxis, protection of criminal activities, and reduction of traffic accidents by giving break for drivers and others. But, it is difficult to say that there is improvement on the affordability where the system helps taxi drivers to exploit the poor. Besides, the system is ineffective in creation of organizational structure, which hinders establishment of strong accountability relationship and active participation of actors. Therefore, to make the system more effective, possible remedial actions should be taken, such as promoting taxi associations to Plc. and contracting out zones to them, establishing organizations with government holding of majority shares, and installation of computerized working system