Hanoi proposes to open BRT lanes for other vehicles

The department said in a report submitted to the Hanoi People’s Committee Thursday that allowing the other vehicles to use BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) lanes would help reduce traffic congestion and improve the effectiveness of traffic infrastructure.

As the BRT route from Kim Ma Street to the Yen Nghia Station is part of an urban traffic development project sponsored by the World Bank, an adjustment would require the approval of both the city administration and the World Bank, the department said.

It said several sections along the BRT route, including Le Van Luong-Khuat Duy Tien, To Huu-Trung Van and To Huu-Vu Trong Khanh, are prone to traffic congestion.

The Le Van Luong-Khuat Duy Tien section, for instance, hosts a construction site for a tunnel, meaning the road area available for traffic is considerably reduced. The proposed adjustment would help reduce congestion, the department argued.

The To Huu-Vu Trong Khanh and the To Huu-Trung Van sections are frequently congested because of high traffic density.

The department said it would introduce and monitor traffic adjustments, including expanding road area, to solve the issue.

Hanoi’s first BRT line was opened to the public in 2016, running from Kim Ma to the Yen Nghia Station. Buses plying the 14 km route covered it in around 45 minutes.

The project’s total investment cost, including stations and vehicles, is around $55 million.