TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN CAIRO
                           AN OVERVIEW OF THE CAUSES AS WELL AS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS


Since Phase I of the Cairo Traffic Congestion Study is an analysis of the causes of Cairo
congestion only as well as the preliminary estimation of economic cost, this overview also
provides potential solutions, based on the work of the ongoing Phase II of the Cairo Traffic
Congestion Study and previous studies, including the World Bank’s Proposed Urban Transport
Strategy for Greater Cairo.
1.       Traffic congestion and delays in Cairo are going from bad to worse. When making a
trip during peak hours, one should expect at least double the normal travel time. To reach an
important meeting on time, one has to allow for additional time to cope with unexpected but
frequent delays resulting from road accidents, security checks, and vehicle breakdowns. Average
speeds on major corridors are at least half (15-40km/h) the normally expected speeds (60-80
km/h), and speeds on some local roads in central Cairo are even worse, sometimes making it
faster to make short trips on foot.
2.       There are many causes for traffic congestion in Cairo. Fuel subsidies make gasoline
and diesel inexpensive, encouraging more private cars on the road, and even large investments in
highways will not keep pace with growing traffic congestion. Cars are either circulating or
parked on the streets, thereby blocking the traffic, since there are no or few parking facilities.
The metro ridership is high, but the metro coverage is very limited for a city as big as Cairo, and
buses are few and old. Minibuses and taxis help transporting a lot of people, but generally need
to be safer, cleaner and be able to pick up and drop off passengers more easily. There are few
road crossings for pedestrians and sidewalks are often blocked by vendors. There are also few
traffic lights and intersections, and U-turns are badly managed and slow traffic substantially.
Drivers’ behavior and poor enforcement often result in the general disregard of traffic rules.
3.     The economic costs of traffic congestion in Cairo could be as high as 4 percent of
GDP yearly. The economic costs of congestion are beyond travel delays, and they include
wasted fuel, health impacts due to poor air quality and accidents, and impacts on economic
productivity. When all combined, the yearly economic cost of traffic congestion could reach up
to 4% of Egypt’s GDP. This means an economic cost to Egypt of up to EGP 50 billion a year
(USD 8 billion/year)1.
4.      Almost all large metropolises of the world pay a heavy price for congestion, but
Cairo’s costs are excessive. New York loses about USD 10 billion/year2 on delays and wasted
fuel alone, and Jakarta USD 5 billion/year3. Cairo’s losses are particularly significant given the
relative importance of the city to Egypt’s overall economy: New York’s losses relative to the US
GDP are negligible (0.07%) while Jakarta’s losses represent about 0.6% of Indonesia’s GDP; the
relative cost of Cairo’s congestion to Egypt’s GDP therefore stands high at 4%.


1
  Phase I initially estimated economic cost at about 1.5% of GDP. Phase I analysis was undertaken for a subset of Cairo’s road network (excluding estimation for a
     significant part of the local roads network) and for few economic variables, notably travel delay and excess fuel consumption. Phase II, currently ongoing, is
     accounting for the additional costs from local roads and other costs, such as health impacts and economic productivity. Phase II estimates, while not final, put the
     overall yearly economic costs in the 40-50 billion EGP range.
2
  2011 Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute, 2011.
3
  The Jakarta Post, 16 March, 2011, referring to a study by the Jakarta Transportation agency.


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5.      World experience in tackling the complex congestion problem in cities is focused
primarily on two basic solutions: improving public transport and making the use of private
vehicles expensive. Public transport in most European cities is well developed both in coverage
and quality. All modes (metro, tram, buses…) are clean, safe, and affordable, and well
integrated. The objective is to allow for all categories of travelers (rich and poor, men and
women…) to move almost anywhere in the city. When public transport is good, the use of
private cars during peak hours becomes more of a luxury rather a necessity, and those opting for
this luxury have to pay a large price through tolls, parking charges, and congestion charges.
6.      There are solutions that can be implemented quickly in Cairo that could deliver
immediate gains4. Improving traffic management and the use of traffic lights at intersections can
be a start. Managing parking spaces, introducing parking meters and building parking structures
would also be very effective. Providing the proper space for pedestrians’ circulation, such as
sidewalks and road crossings, will minimize accidents and reduce traffic disruptions. Better
regulation of vehicles and drivers, as well as enforcement of traffic and parking rules, would
improve driver’s behavior and the traffic flows. Finally, creating taxi and micro-buses stops, and
organizing the routes and areas served by them, would better serve the travel needs of the public.
7.      They should be accompanied by longer lasting and sustainable solutions that involve
an expansion of the public transport system and a revision of transport pricing. Metros,
buses and microbuses are packed in Cairo: this is good because it shows that many people use
public transport; this is also bad because it implies there is little supply and not enough capacity
in the existing public transport system. Large investments in public transport can be costly and
difficult to fund, but if they can reduce congestion costs by a modest percentage the benefits will
be very significant. Revising the pricing of transportation, particularly the gradual removal of
fuel subsidies and the introduction of parking charges, will both contribute to reducing the use of
private vehicle as well as generating the necessary funds to make public transport investments.
This combination of ‘carrot’ (good and affordable public transport) and ‘stick’ (increased cost
for the use of private vehicles) is the most sustainable way forward for reducing traffic
congestion and costs in Cairo. In parallel, there should also be a gradual implementation of
longer term solutions notably revising land use and allowing for adequate road space and public
transport in new urban developments; changing the road usage patterns by allowing for flexible
work hours and the increased usage of technology to allow for remote business transactions; and
further encouraging pedestrians and other non-motorized means of transportation.
8.      These solutions can only be implemented by dedicated urban transport institutions
with sufficient numbers of qualified staff. Urban transport is a complex subject spanning the
competencies of several ministries, governorates, government agencies, as well as public and
private transport operators. It also requires a large number of skilled staff with expertise in
various fields such as traffic management, public transport, infrastructure management, parking
management, and enforcement. World experience shows that cities that were most effective in
reducing congestion (London, Paris) have delegated much of urban transport competencies and
authority to a single Metropolitan Transport Authority. While the modalities for such authority
can be different in various cities, its essential function is to lead the planning, regulation, and
execution of key urban transport activities. It also plays a central role in coordinating urban
transport policies and activities with the various relevant agencies in the sector in order to have a

4
    The ongoing phase II of the Cairo Traffic Congestion study estimates the economic benefits of some of these measures and makes recommendations on the most cost
       effective measures.


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coherent, efficient, and integrated urban transport system. Cairo desperately needs such an
authority with sufficient resources and power to move the urban transport agenda at the required
fast pace to meet Cairo’s increasing congestion challenges.




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