ASSESSING THE SERVICES AND CHALLENGES OF ROAD TRANSPORT: THE CASE OF SHAMBU-BAKO IN HORO GUDURU WOLLEGA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the services and challenges of road transportation; the case Shambu –Bako in Horo Guduru Wellega zone. To this end descriptive survey design was used, both quantitative and qualitative methods of research were employed. The primary sources were civil servants and merchants and investigator observation. Secondary data collected from transport agencies and traffic police. They were 26 key informants selected from traffic police, road authority, merchants and civil servants. The numbers of samples were 297 selected from those were frequently used road transportation from Shambu to Bako high way. Data gathering instrument were questionnaires, semi –structured interview and observation checklist. The data obtained by using questionnaires were analyzed quantativeiy beside those obtained through semi –structured interview were analyzed qualitatively. Finally, attempt was made to triangulate the quantitative and qualitative data where necessary. The analysis led to the following major finding :The study revealed assessing the services and challenges of road transportation between Shambu and Bako is high, the government did not give due attention for this high way .The low performance of road influence in different ways for the people of Shambu and its surrounding. The major influences were: the people paid more tariffs; the vehicle was not available when they wanted to travel. Sick people died before reaching referral hospital, the passengers forced to paextra money to get tickets illegally, the vehicle carry more than its capacity this influenced car accidents and exposed for for extra payment, etc..Based on the finding, it was concluded that the Shambu town administration, the community of Shambu, merchants and civil servant of the town are coming together hearing their voice for federal government in order to upgrade the road at as- phalt level.