The new BRT system project in Dakar was officially launched by the Minister of Infrastructure, Land Transport and Development of Senegal on 18 September 2018.

The new Dakar BRT service is the first system of its kind in French-speaking Africa, and marks a milestone in the development of PPP projects in Senegal. It combines public investment in infrastructure and technological systems with the participation of the private sector (which will bring the fleet of vehicles and the experience in managing this type of system in the form of a concession for the operation during a 10 years period).

The first line of the system will consist of an 18.3 km network, 3 Interchange Terminals and 20 other stations linking Guediawaye in the north of the city with Cabral, at the centre of Dakar. The system has been designed according to the highest international standards and includes:

• Segregated and exclusive lanes with double lane in the stations to allow the overtaking of buses at a stop
• Access control at stations for more efficient boarding and alighting
• High-floor articulated buses with doors on the left hand side (to prevent other buses from using the infrastructure)
• High-frequency service, with service frequencies of less than 2 minutes at peak times
• A modern, secure ticketing system interoperable with the new suburban train connecting with the new airport

This new public transport system will mean a paradigm shift in urban mobility in the capital of Senegal. Travel time to the city centre will be reduced from the current 90 minutes to 45 minutes, and the comfort, reliability, safety and regularity will improve considerably.

With a total cost of 450 million euros, the new high-capacity public transport system will transport more than 300,000 passengers a day. The project required the redesign of the city's urban transport network, including the creation of 26 feeder lines to complement the system.

ALG has been responsible for the technical aspects of the project, advising the Government of Dakar in matters related to:

• Vehicles: fleet, technical specifications (sizes, capacity, accessibility, motor, emissions, autonomy, air conditioning, interior, passenger information system, safety, maintenance, reception, verification and commissioning, criteria and requirements for fleet expansion, etc.).
• Ticketing system: technical requirements of supports, processes, interoperability, transport tickets, on-board systems (logic unit, GPS receiver, central unit, CCTV cameras, etc.), connectivity, maintenance, station equipment, revenue distribution system, etc.
• Control centre: infrastructure and systems requirements, telecommunication system, operational support system, passenger information systems, maintenance, personnel,
• Depot: capacity, functionality, necessary facilities, environment, security, maintenance, service station, repair shops, accesses, etc.
• Operational requirements: service schedules and frequencies, station management, fraud control, dealers' staff, system security, etc.
• KPIs and penalty system: Quality indicators (punctuality, occupancy rate, security, user complaints, etc.), associated penalty system, reporting, etc.

ALG will provide support to the Granting Authority during the tendering process, in the selection of the operator in all technical and demand aspects until the commercial and financial closing of the operation. Construction works are planned to start during the first half of 2019 and the new BRT system is expected to be launched in 2021.