Why first- and last-mile transport matters for sustainable cities

Every day, thousands of people utilize Dar es Salaam's Magufuli Station, in Tanzania. For many, the train journey is only one part of a much longer trip. Getting to the station, finding reliable transportation upon arrival, navigating busy drop-off areas, and making the final connection home or to work. These transitions are often just as important as the rail service itself, and are vital to complete urban transit systems.

This challenge, known as first- and last-mile connectivity, is one of the most important factors in determining whether public transportation systems succeed. Even the most efficient rail network can struggle to deliver its full value if passengers face barriers completing the journey beyond the station.

As global cities grow, transport authorities are increasingly recognizing that mobility goes beyond moving people from one destination to another. It is about creating connected, accessible journeys that improve everyday life.

In August 2025, an Arcadis team supporting the Shelter Program landed in Tanzania to help explore how a major transportation hub could become a catalyst for more sustainable, connected urban mobility. Working alongside local stakeholders, the team developed a concept for an e-Mobility Hub at Magufuli Station, one that could not only become a true multimodal transportation hub today but also support Tanzania's long-term mobility ambitions.

Why first- and last-mile connectivity matters

Dar es Salaam's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has transformed regional mobility by providing a fast and reliable rail connection for thousands of passengers every day. The success of the service has also introduced new challenges.

In terms of transit-oriented development, with trains operating at or near capacity and daily passenger volumes reaching up to 9,000 people, pressure on station access areas has increased significantly. Travelers arriving at the station must share limited curb space with taxis, motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles, private cars, freight traffic, and ride-hailing services. Congestion, informal loading areas, and competing transport modes can create delays and friction for passengers and operators alike.

These challenges are not unique to Tanzania. Across the globe, growing cities are grappling with how to make public transportation systems more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly. While investments in rail infrastructure often focus on stations, tracks, and rolling stock, the quality of the passenger experience frequently depends on what happens beyond the platform.

Improving first- and last-mile connectivity helps unlock the full value of public transportation. It can reduce congestion, improve accessibility, increase transit usage, and create safer, more convenient journeys for passengers.

Listening first: understanding how people move

Before developing solutions, the Arcadis team focused on understanding how people were already using the station and the transportation network around it.

The Shelter project brought together representatives from the Tanzanian Railways Corporation (TRC), the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), local e-mobility providers, community stakeholders, and transport operators. Through workshops, interviews, site visits, surveys, and operational analysis, the team sought to understand both the technical and human dimensions of mobility around Magufuli Station.

One insight quickly became clear: transportation decisions are shaped by everyday realities.

Many motorcycle and three-wheeled vehicle drivers travel considerable distances just to reach the station. At the same time, many expressed strong interest in transitioning to electric vehicles because electricity costs are lower than fuel costs. However, concerns around charging infrastructure, vehicle range, and awareness of e-mobility technologies remain as barriers to adoption.

The team also identified a need for better waiting areas, clearer passenger pickup zones, improved circulation, and stronger connections between different transportation modes.

By focusing on how people experience the transportation system – not just how infrastructure is intended to function – the project was able to address real-world mobility challenges in a more meaningful way.

Designing mobility around people

The proposed e-Mobility Hub was designed around several practical improvements:

• Dedicated areas for Bajaj and Boda Boda vehicles, helping separate transportation modes and reduce conflicts at the station entrance
• Clear pedestrian pathways and wayfinding signage to improve navigation between the station and onward transportation options
• Designated pick-up and drop-off locations to improve traffic circulation and reduce congestion
• Shaded waiting areas and enhanced amenities to improve comfort for drivers and passengers
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support future e-mobility adoption

Together, these measures would help create a safer, more efficient, and more welcoming transportation experience.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure forms an important part of the concept. However, rather than treating charging as the primary objective, the design positions e-mobility as one component within a broader electric mobility solutions ecosystem.

This distinction is important. Successful sustainable transport infrastructure must address operational performance, user behavior, economic realities, and long-term sustainability simultaneously. The proposed hub was therefore designed not simply to accommodate electric vehicles, but to improve how people move through and around the station.

Creating a model for sustainable urban mobility

The project also reflects a broader shift in how cities are approaching sustainable transportation.

Rather than implementing large-scale infrastructure all at once, the concept proposes a phased approach that allows solutions to evolve alongside changing technologies, regulations, and user needs.

This future-focused thinking is particularly important in emerging e-mobility markets, where innovation is moving quickly and long-term standards are still developing.

To support this flexibility, Arcadis recommended a concession-based delivery model that would enable local partners to install and operate charging infrastructure while allowing TRC to retain long-term oversight and control. Such an approach can help accelerate implementation, reduce public-sector risk, and create opportunities for future adaptation as the market matures.

The concept was also designed with replication in mind. While tailored to Magufuli Station, the principles behind the project could be applied to other rail stations and transportation hubs throughout Tanzania and beyond.

By developing scalable solutions rather than one-off interventions, cities can create mobility systems that grow alongside demand while remaining responsive to local needs.

Improving quality of life through better mobility

Transportation infrastructure influences far more than travel times.

The way people move through cities affects access to jobs, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. It shapes how communities connect, how businesses operate, and how residents experience daily life.

When mobility systems are fragmented or difficult to navigate, the impacts extend beyond transportation. Conversely, when journeys become safer, more reliable, and more accessible, the benefits can be felt across entire communities.

Better-connected transportation systems can deliver benefits that extend well beyond mobility itself:

• Cleaner air through reduced vehicle emissions
• Lower operating costs for drivers
• Reduced traffic congestion around key transport hubs
• Safer and more accessible journeys for passengers
• Improved passenger comfort and travel experience
• New economic opportunities linked to emerging mobility services

These outcomes demonstrate how transportation investments can contribute directly to quality of life.

The proposed e-Mobility Hub offers the potential to create benefits for passengers, drivers, operators, and the wider community alike. Perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates how relatively targeted interventions can create broader improvements in quality of life.

A rail station is more than a transportation asset. It is often a gateway to opportunity. By improving how people connect with these hubs, cities can help ensure that the benefits of transportation investments reach more people and communities.

Lessons for transport authorities

As cities continue to invest in rail and public transportation infrastructure, several lessons emerge from the Tanzania experience.

Connecting infrastructure to everyday life

The Arcadis Shelter project in Tanzania illustrates how transportation infrastructure can deliver value beyond its primary function.

By combining rail connectivity, sustainable mobility, stakeholder collaboration, and human-centered design, the project explored how transportation hubs can become catalysts for broader social and environmental benefits.

As urban populations continue to grow and mobility demands become increasingly complex, the most successful transportation solutions will be those that look beyond infrastructure alone.

Improving quality of life starts with understanding how people live, move, and connect. In Tanzania, that understanding helped shape a vision for a more connected future – one where the journey does not end at the station but continues seamlessly into everyday life.