The High-Level Bus Project in Agadir Enters the Second Phase

Officially launched in March 2021 as part of the Urban Development Program of the city of Agadir 2020-2024, the Bus Rapid Transit project is starting its second phase of infrastructure development work. It is the simultaneous launch of separate tenders for lots 2 and 3 dedicated to infrastructure, covering respectively 5.2 km and 6.4 km. They will activate the work from the Giratoire Al Kamra to the neighborhood Al Houda, and from the latter to that of Tikiouine.

The identity of the successful bidder of these two lots, totaling 24 stations, is scheduled for December 7th, 2022. The overall duration of execution of all the services included in lot 1 and 2 has been set at 12 months for each lot, from the notification of the service order by the project owner, prescribing the beginning of the execution of the services. In addition, the development of the transit hubs is included in the same contract. Indeed, the work of the first stage of the BHNS, “Amalway Agadir Trambus”, relating to the traffic infrastructure of the trambus, has concerned a length of 3.9 km, from the port of Agadir to the crossroads El Kamra. These first works, relating to the traffic infrastructure of the trambus, are overseen by the company “Grand Agadir for mobility and urban travel SA”, which is the project owner, while the works are conducted by the Moroccan company Générale Routière, a subsidiary of NGE, French group of buildings and public works. They have been allocated a budget of 123.90 million dirhams and will take 14 months to complete, with an expected completion date of June 2022.

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An estimate close to $43.2 million (401 million dirhams)

In total, the four lots total about $43.2 million (401 MDH), and concern, in addition to the work of the second section, those relating to infrastructure related to two hubs, that of the additional fishing port and that of the Place Salam (slaughterhouses district), respectively up to $3.6 million (33.3 MDH) and $862,500 (8 MDH). The opening date of bids for these two lots is scheduled for November 23rd, 2022. They will be added to the launch, on October 2022, of the Vallée des Oiseaux exchange hub, which will enable the restructuring of the entire conventional bus network in the vicinity, thus ensuring the physical integration of public transport around the HQPT line.

This contract, which includes the various trades, namely infrastructure, urban development, furniture, public lighting, and green space, was awarded to the SNTRO/SATIMED consortium, for an amount of more than $1.6 billion (14.75 billion dirhams) and a completion period of 6 months. The project also includes a fare integration that offers passengers the possibility of using the BRT line and other conventional lines with the same ticket. Eventually, Amalway will link the port of Agadir to the Tikiouine districts in 45 minutes, along a 15.5 km route, built as an exclusive right-of-way and passing through 35 stations and 6 interchange hubs.

Acquisition of 30 HQPT: The tender in progress

According to estimates, ridership is estimated at 60,000 passengers per day. They will be transported daily by more than 30 high service level buses with an hourly range from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and a regularity estimated at an average of one bus every 5 minutes during rush hour with a commercial speed of 20 km/h, thanks to its fleet of articulated vehicles. The acquisition of the fleet of 30 HQPT has already been launched with the objective of putting them into service in June 2023.

The awarding of the contract is currently being examined by the SDL “Grand Agadir for mobility and urban travel SA”. These vehicles, which will require a budget of more than $19.3 million (179 MDH) according to the estimate of the project owner, will have a length of 18 to 21 m and will be equipped with a diesel engine at least level Euro VI-D or a hybrid diesel-electric engine at least level Euro VI-D. The total budget for the construction of Amalway is estimated at $129.4 million (1.2 billion dirhams). This first axis of the public transport network is 15.5 km long and runs through the whole city of Agadir, along a North-South-East axis, linking the port of Agadir to the Tikiouine districts and serving numerous generating poles such as the Administrative Center, Hassan II Avenue, Souk El Had, Hassan I Avenue, the University Pole, Cité Al Houda, the Tassila, and Tikiouine Industrial Zone

35 stations and 6 transit hubs

This first line will serve 105,000 people within a 500 m radius of the line. Technically, it has a lane reserved exclusively for bus traffic, as for a tramway line, with the implementation of systems guaranteeing priority at intersections, the use of rolling stock, and comfortable stations with a modern design, of a quality equivalent to that of tramways. The HQPT also offers real-time passenger information and modern ticketing at 35 stations with 6 interchange hubs. The buses will be about 18 meters long.

They will be able to accommodate between 145 and 160 people. In addition to the transport project, the developments, which will be carried out from front to back on the axes crossed by Amalway Agadir Trambus, will enable the public spaces and roads along the project to be upgraded. They will reinforce soft modes (pedestrians and bicycles) and will make it possible to secure their movements in specific spaces clearly identified and protected from motorized modes. They will reinforce the attractiveness of the city of Agadir. The project also provides for a fare integration that offers passengers the possibility of using the BRT line and the other conventional lines with the same ticket.

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(Featured image by mammela via Pixabay)

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First published in LES ECO.ma, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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