This research tries to support the planning of public transport systems in a developing city, by
proposing a GIS-based Planning Support System (PSS) to arrange and visualize data available for
planning purposes. The PSS can help analysing various planning scenarios together with multiple
stakeholders, to aid rational planning of the public transport system. The focus of this research lies
on the transition of the current, often informal, state of public transport system to a formalised,
planned and effective public transport system. The public transport system of Kigali (Rwanda) is used
as a case study for the PSS development.
The main research objective of this study is to develop a Planning Support System for the
rationalization of public transport planning in Kigali, Rwanda. To reach this objective, the concept of
public transport rationalization is described in detail, followed by an analysis of the possibilities for
rationalization of public transport planning in Kigali, Rwanda. A prototype PSS system is developed to
aid this rationalization, and some recommendations for the further use of this system in rational
planning are provided in a draft rationalization plan.