The Karachi Mass Transit Study (KMTS) was commissioned in 1987 with the objective of developing a program by which needs for public transport improvements in Karachi could be met. The study found the city's traffic to be growing more rapidly than the population. Private motor vehicle ownership and use proved to be increasing at nearly twice the population growth rate. Public Transport's share of the travel market was found to be declining slowly. The quantity of public transport services have been dropping more rapidly, due to neglect or abuse of the bus systems and the existing local suburban rail services.

SYNOPSIS OF THE STUDY

In its stage 1, KMTS prepared a detailed work plan, reviewed numerous prior studies and proposals regarding mass transit development, conducted travel surveys from which it developed a database including zone-to-zone travel movements according to trip purpose and mode of travel, forecasted population, employment and the number of students to select those potentially applicable in Karachi during the Mass Transit improvement period.

The screening also included the withdrawal from consideration of a number of technologies from further study.

Stage 2 of the study included development of calibrated travel forecasting and evaluation models, development & evaluation of major mass transit improvement alternatives, public review of findings and adoption of a recommended program for mass transit including key institutional features.

In Stage 3, the adopted program was further developed and detailed as presented in the report. The Study's Inception Report, Interim Reports and Technical Memoranda fully documented the work leading to the mass transit improvement program for Karachi.

STUDY RESULTS

The final report of the KMTS set out the adopted program for mass improvement in Karachi. The program is to begin immediately and addresses needs through the year 2000; a broad implication for mass transit improvement beyond that year are addressed as well.

The Program provides for immediate actions addressing the deficiencies in the present day minibus and standard bus services. Further, it calls for construction of an 87 kilometers network of transit ways which will be for the exclusive use of Mass Transit Vehicles. The entire 87 kilometers should be in place by the year 2001.