Challenges of spatial integration and sustainability in urban mass transit systems: evidence from Addis Ababa light rail transit (LRT)

Abstract Sustainable and integrated urban mass transit planning not only enhances mobility but also plays a decisive role in mitigating climate change. Light rail transit (LRT) is increasingly being integrated into urban traffic systems and city landscapes, although several integration challenges remain. The Addis Ababa LRT, introduced in 2015 as Sub-Saharan Africa’s first light rail system, has since faced varied opinions from the public and academic spheres regarding its efficiency and integration. This study aimed to objectively analyze the spatial integration of the LRT and its effects on urban mobility and sustainability. It examined the structural configuration of the LRT lines, their impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and compatibility with standards. A descriptive research design was adopted, utilizing both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through field visits, pedestrian and motorized traffic crossing inventories and mapping, and key informant interviews (KIIs). The study found that the spatial integration and sustainability of the Addis Ababa LRT are low, with significant noncompliance to standards, resulting in poor compatibility with both motorized and pedestrian traffic. The average exceedance score of the motorized crossing is 0.53 (which means 53% incompliance with the standard) for the East-West LRT, and 70% of incompliance for the North–South LRT, indicating very low compatibility and inadequate spatial integration. Exceedance of pedestrian crossing standards is also markedly high: 240% for the East–West and 160% for the North–South LRT, more than a twofold deviation from the standard. The center-periphery analysis provided better compliance in the center of business district compared to the peripheral areas. There is also a notable contrast in incompliance rates between the two lines: 59% and 78% of their respective total lengths. KII results align with the compliance findings and highlight the low spatial integration of the LRT and its implications for sustainability: increased travel, low permeability, and urban segregation, thereby undermining overall sustainability and compromising the LRT’s clean transport benefits.