Road traffic congestion in cities: seeking a solution for Beirut, Lebanon

摘要

Beirut, Lebanon, was once called "the pearl of the Middle East", but it was transformed by the 15-year civil war (1975-1990), which left it and other cities in the country badly damaged, with roads impaired and train operations halted. Since that time, there has not really been an efficient public transport infrastructure in place, which has led to a high dependency on private car use that has exacerbated road traffic congestion in the Greater Beirut Area (GBA), turning the daily commute into an ordeal for many people. Studies to alleviate the problem are underway, but are taking some time to come to fruition, as there are several stages that require approval from various bodies.