Strengthening Tirana’s Infrastructures to Reduce Traffic Congestion Possible solutions, best practices and success stories
Author
Luca LEZZERINI
Affiliation
PhD IDAUP / University of Ferrara, Italy
Abstract
Traffic congestion in Tirana has become a critical urban challenge shaped by multiple interrelated factors, including inadequate public transport, fragmented urban development, insufficient road infrastructure, weak traffic management, poor parking regulation, limited pedestrian accessibility, and inconsistent enforcement of the Highway Code. This article examines these structural deficiencies and proposes an integrated roadmap for reducing congestion through coordinated spatial, institutional, and transport interventions. The study is developed within the theoretical framework of the UPT – Urban Planners’ Toolset project, which aims to support urban planning processes through software-based analytical tools. Methodologically, the article is based on an extensive literature review of both Tirana-specific studies and international best practices, focusing on infrastructure and governance-related dimensions of congestion rather than motorisation growth itself. The analysis identifies several priority measures: implementation of the planned electric Bus Rapid Transit (eBRT) corridors; redesign of the public transport network through a hierarchical model and performance-based contracts; deployment of adaptive traffic signal systems; establishment of a metropolitan mobility governance authority; transition from a monocentric to a polycentric urban structure; formalisation and infrastructural upgrading of informal settlements; stronger parking management; and improvements in pedestrian safety and road rule enforcement. The findings suggest that congestion in Tirana is not merely a transport issue, but a manifestation of broader urban and institutional fragmentation. Therefore, effective mitigation requires a multidimensional and phased strategy combining quick wins, medium-term reforms, and long-term structural transformation. Despite data limitations and the absence of scenario modelling, the article contributes to defining planning requirements for UPT and provides a policy-oriented framework for addressing traffic congestion in Tirana.
