TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND THE CHALLENGES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN FCT

This Paper examines the challenges of transportation policy and development in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. To achieve this, the decision making approach was adopted as a theoretical underpinning and secondary> data was generated for the study. The investigation revealed that the cost of transportation to passengers within the FCT has not been affordable; this was attributed to the non availability of enough mass transit buses, city train. The implementation of urban transport policy on the level of accident rate in Federal Capital Territory demonstrated that the enforcement of traffic regulations by FRSC and VIO have no significance effect on the reduction in the deaths ofpassengers in FCT. though on - street parking facilities are provided on many routes in Abuja especially in the neighbour hoods, lack of an integrated intermodal transport system for FCT as all movements in the territory today are road- based for which the existing road infrastructure is unable to cope with. However, the study recommended among others that adequate facilities should be provided, strict enforcement traffic regulation should intensified, transport cost should be reduced through the prevision of more high capacity buses while congestion on the roads within the FCT should be checkmated. In conclusion, FCT administration should revamp the transport sector in order to improve the standard of living of its residents.