The greater metropolitan area of Rabat now has a population of 1.77 million and by 2025 it is expected to touch 2.7 million and this growth could cause more traffic congestion and disparate use of technology with disintegrated, disconnected, and often manual operations.

A team of IBM (News - Alert) experts studied the Greater Rabat area and submitted their initial recommendations that can help the metropolitan area realize a more effective and efficient public transport system both in Rabat and nearby Sale and Temara, by 2020. The team was funded by IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant which Rabat applied for and eventually won. The team’s recommendations supposedly include a plan to address three aspects of an improved urban public transport system.

First is to coordinate multiple agencies by launching a transportation authority and by employing an integrated budget and plan, the operation and growth of public transportation can be managed more efficiently and cost effectively.

Second, is to convert the transport system that is safer and more convenient for users. For that purpose the transportation authority should strive to publish accurate and updated transport and travel schedules and deploy a common ticketing system across buses and trams. It should also work to bring down and regulate traffic at rush hours.

The last aspect to make sure the employees remain well trained, supported, focused and motivated.

“With its Smarter Cities Program, IBM is enabling new approaches to urban infrastructure services, by harnessing technology to solve transportation issues. The Cities of Rabat, Sale, and Temara will be able to predict and respond flexibly in all situations, by using data to drive intelligent responses and planning. This is a concrete example of how we can leverage technology to help improve urban mobility”, said Abdallah Rachidi, country general manager of IBM Morocco, in a press release.

Fathallah Oualalou, the Mayor of Rabat announced that in October 2013, the city will be hosting the United Cities and Local Government World Congress and this will be the opportunity for Rabat officials to present the findings and expected progress for the city’s transportation management system.