The First and Last Mile (FLM) Bus Scheme

The First and Last Mile (FLM) Bus Scheme is an innovative transport option which gives commuters in communities wider berth in accessing main transport corridors. The Lagos FLM is part of the Statewide Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), conceived to develop a coherent, formalized and regulated bus transport system and network across the entire Lagos State. In 2012, LAMATA carried out a Bus Route Network Study which rationalized and identified 485 individual major bus routes. Also identified are standard routes, first and last mile routes and 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors from the Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP). The BRI is aimed at implementing the rationalized Bus Route Network. The BRI started with the implementation of BRT in 2008 when the Mile 12 – CMS (BRT) Lite scheme was commissioned. Following the successful operations and the need for expansion and upgrade, a 13.5 km extension of the BRT to Ikoroudu was commissioned in 2015

The restriction of motorcycles and tricycles in the six Local Government Areas and nine Local Council Development areas created a mobility gap that was required to be filled urgently. Thus, the FLM Scheme became imperative within the areas where commercial motorcycles and tricycles had been restricted.

Consequently, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation in conjunction with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority conceived the First and Last Mile Bus Scheme and soon delineated the state into seven zones for ease of its implementation and operation. They are:

• To enhance mobility, improve accessibility and affordability for commuters within the existing bus system.
• To increase access to quality public transport services for all members of the society
• To expand the reach of transit through infrastructure improvement
• To enhance safety and security

The FLM routes are considered as community-based routes that are currently majorly served by Tricycles and Motorcycles. The implementation of the FLM scheme is designed to enhance passengers’ connectivity and accessibility to all the bus routes (standard and BRT routes) as well as proposed Rail corridors and waterways in Lagos.

The FLM scheme, in line with the BRI objectives and methodology, entails LASG partnering with Private Investors. They will provide buses with seating capacity ranging from 11to 13 seater buses. Government plans to make available 2,000 units of 11- 13 seater micro buses in the 1^st phase of the scheme.

LASG shall support the private operators in the Bus acquisition under a Bus Finance Scheme. The private operator shall be required to make 20% down payment to be eligible to come under the Bus Finance scheme. Such Operator shall be expected to open an account with the designated bank warehousing the joint funds of the Private sector and the State who will advance the 80% credit facility.

The repayment period for the Bus Finance Scheme shall be for a period of 36 months. In other to ensure that the Operator does not default in the repayment of the loan, each operator shall put down a 30 day repayment deposit as financial guarantee.

Lagos State Government has deployed a central ticketing system for use across all Public Transport modes including the FLM operations. To ensure seamless mobility within the transport system, the electronic payment system shall be deployed for the FLM operations. This shall allow a commuter with the existing Lagos State Cowry travel card on the BRT buses, Standard route buses to also use it on the FLM buses.

A central switching company has been engaged to carry out the reconciliation and settlement daily thereby ensuring all operators receive their respective revenue daily. The operator shall be trained on the functionality of the ticketing device.

All the Drivers under the FLM scheme shall be duly certified by the Lagos State Drivers Training Institute (LASDRI). Also, operators will be required to come up with training programs for drivers and other support staff to enhance their knowledge and technical capabilities.

The monitoring of the FLM Operations will be carried out through physical and electronic monitoring. The physical monitoring will be carried out through the deployment of monitoring officers to the categorized zones of the first/last mile corridors. A Monitoring Mobile Application has been designed for real-time data collection as well as vehicle tracking devices.

In addition, buses shall be color-coded according to zones for ease of identification and monitoring.

To ensure the longevity of the buses, maintenance of the buses shall be outsourced to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and they shall be responsible for executing all preventive and corrective maintenance needs. Operators will ensure that buses are maintained following the best engineering standard. The OEM will provide full maintenance support which includes curative and preventive maintenance. A central maintenance workshop shall be provided by the bus supplier where local technicians shall be trained from time to time and they shall receive certification to be the OEM certified technician.