Assessing Spatial Variations of Traffic Congestion Using Traffic Index Data in a Developing City: Lessons from Johannesburg, South Africa

Thembani Moyo, Siphiwe Mbatha, Oluwayemi-Oniya Aderibigbe, Trynos Gumbo and Innocent Musonda
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Thembani Moyo: Centre for Applied and Research Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE), Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, Corner Siemert & Beit Streets, Doornfontein, Johannesburg 0184, South Africa
Siphiwe Mbatha: Sustainable and Smart Cities and Regions Research Group, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Johannesburg, Corner Siemert & Beit Streets, Doornfontein, Johannesburg 0184, South Africa
Oluwayemi-Oniya Aderibigbe: Sustainable and Smart Cities and Regions Research Group, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Johannesburg, Corner Siemert & Beit Streets, Doornfontein, Johannesburg 0184, South Africa
Trynos Gumbo: Sustainable and Smart Cities and Regions Research Group, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Johannesburg, Corner Siemert & Beit Streets, Doornfontein, Johannesburg 0184, South Africa
Innocent Musonda: Centre for Applied and Research Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE), Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, Corner Siemert & Beit Streets, Doornfontein, Johannesburg 0184, South Africa

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has created unforeseen effects in public transport and the mobility of people in cities globally. Johannesburg, being a developing city in one of the most affected countries in Africa during the pandemic, has experienced severe changes in traffic management and travel patterns as a result of the restrictions imposed on movement. Hence, this study examined the spatial variations in traffic during the pandemic. The study utilized data obtained from the TomTom Traffic Index for the city of Johannesburg from 2019 to 2021, with 2019 representing the period pre-COVID-19 with no lockdown restrictions, 2020 representing the period with restricted movement to limit spread of COVID-19, and 2021 representing a period of relaxed and minimized restrictions on movement. Our findings revealed that there was a variation in congestion levels between 2019–2021 with year 2020 having the least congestion from the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions due to regulations enforced in movement and reduced travel. Our findings further revealed that traffic congestion was higher during weekdays than weekends during the three periods, with mini-bus taxis as the major contributors to congestion. Consequently, there is a need to discourage the use of single occupancy vehicles and invest in more sustainable means of transportation to ease the mobility of people and reduce traffic on major roads.

Keywords: congestion; traffic index; COVID-19 pandemic; city of Johannesburg (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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