Impact of Traffic Congestion on the Commercial Center: The Case of Nekemte Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Today, the problem of traffic congestion in cities, which is frequently seen following economic, social, and political development, is one of the biggest problems in the world. While this is common in both developed and developing countries, it is a difficult and serious problem in developing countries due to lack of proactivity, lack of capital and un-adaptive use of advanced technology. The impact of traffic congestion on commercial activities and daily life in cities is a problem that appears to be quite realistic. Nekemte is one of the largest cities in western Oromia and is suffering from traffic congestion. In particular, its being a commercial center and a transportation crossing has made it even more vulnerable to traffic congestion. This paper aims to investigate the impact of traffic congestion on the commercial center of the city. Descriptive and explanatory research design was employed in the study aims to identify the current condition of traffic congestion, a major cause and its impacts on commercial centers. On site observation strategy was adopted to collect data on the selected road with high congestion, and organized questionnaire and interview was also conducted to traders, pedestrians and experts. Both qualitative and quantitative approach methods were used, and 158 samples were selected both in probability and non-probability sampling techniques. For probability portion a simple random sampling method was used on traders, and a convenience sampling method was used in non-probability sampling methods on pedestrians, drivers and experts. Traffic accidents are the major element that measures the current condition of traffic congestion. Internally the fast development of infrastructure in the city, externally highly entrance of vehicles daily to the city, and illegally on street parking of trucks that takes the existing space of internal activity are a major causecauses for the occurrence of traffic congestion in the city. The on-street parking affect the permeability of pedestrians, ability to see and understand the environment (visual permeability) and it also affect ability to access functionally (functional permeability) where they intend and what they want to do regarding the commercial activity. And the researcher recommended that the city administration could reduce the impact of traffic congestion on the commercial center by creating a poly centric city and revising policies to allow trucks not to pass through the city center, but through the outskirts.