An analysis of Ahvaz bus services system and its place in urban transportation, as well as the role it plays in reducing the traffic congestion within the central core of the city.

The city of Ahvaz is the capital of Khouzestan province and is situated in the southwestern part of Iran. Because of the presence of heavy industries, and oil fields, Ahvaz is considered as one of the most important cities in Iran. Its population is estimated at 1000000, and it has a tendency to attract migration from other parts of the country. Structurally speaking, most facilities and public amenities and services are situated in and around the city center, which inevitably attracts most of the traffic to the city center. Of all the transportation systems in Ahvaz, the network of bus services is responsible for moving 38% of the passengers from one place to another each day. The following statistics are the findings of a study carried out to determine what modes of transport people are currently using in Ahvaz: Private cars 13.81%, taxis 16.34%, minibuses 5.8%, buses 38%, motorbikes and bicycles 6.57%, others 29.47%. The findings also indicate that each day 300000 journeys take place by bus. Furthermore, around 90% of all journeys end in the commercial center of the city, which, considering the physical structure of the city, creates environmental problems, as well as causing unnecessary and unwanted journeys. This article, whilst analyzing the state of the public transport system in Ahvas, also examines the network of city bus services. In addition, the article studies the place and role of this network in the city and tries to offer useful plans and solutions to the problems associated with city center congestion. For the covering abstract see ITRD E128680.