The taxi industry has given its support to Joburg's Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system, sitting down with the executive mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding.

Executive mayor Amos Masondo and Top Six Taxi Association chairperson Sicelo Mabaso signing the memorandum

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XECUTIVE Mayor Amos Masondo and the taxi industry's Sicelo Mabaso signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system this week, at the Johannesburg Stadium.

On Tuesday, 23 October, Masondo and Mabaso, the chairperson of the Top Six Taxi Association, sat at a table in one of the conference rooms under the stands at the stadium, and in front of about 60 people signed the document.

"This launch of Rea Vaya and the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the taxi industry takes place [during a] very symbolic period on our national calendar - Public Transport Month," Masondo said.

Mayoral committee members; councillors; members of the taxi industry; the director-general in the national Department of Transport, Mpumi Mpofu; professor Jackie Walters, the head of the department of transport and supply chain management at the University of Johannesburg, witnessed the signing.

"This memorandum of understanding provides a broad framework for the ongoing interaction on transport issues between the City of Johannesburg and the taxi associations," Masondo added.

Construction begins
Thereafter the party was bussed to the site of the BRT route in Saratoga Avenue, Doornfontein, where Masondo cut a ribbon, marking the official start of construction.

Consultations with industry representatives, particularly the minibus taxi sector, have been ongoing. The latter has formed a joint Rea Vaya Steering Committee comprising of members of the Regional Taxi Council and the Top Six management, who are "actively and positively involved".

The City has funded independent technical advisers to help the taxi industry to engage with the BRT project. "Both Putco and Metrobus have also been consulted and they are very supportive of the project," according to a City transport document.

"The taxi industry is well known for its spirit of entrepreneurship and I have no doubt that it will also recognise and seize the arising opportunities," Masondo said.

In August this year the mayor, City and government officials and members of the taxi industry visited Bogota and Pereira in Colombia in South America, to study the TransMilenio bus system.

"BRTs are flexible, high frequency, relatively low cost mass transit solutions and have become the backbone of many mass transit systems around the world," Walters said.

The feeder bus, carrying 32 passengers       The complementary bus, carrying 60 passengers       The trunk bus, carrying 90 passengers

Eric Motshwane, the chairperson of the greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council, described the year as being "eventful", with the signing of the memorandum "history in the making".

"It respects the business interests of the taxi industry," he explained, "and we are prepared to assist the City to expand the current operations."

Mabaso agreed. "We are ready to transform the taxi industry. We are ready to sign the memorandum today," he said.

The BRT system
In November 2006, the relatively modest Strategic Public Transport Network, or SPTN, was converted into the more extensive BRT system, a "much more aggressive intervention", based on successful models in South America.

The BRT foresees exclusive median bus lanes; separate, closed median stations about 500 metres apart; bus frequencies of three to five minutes apart in peak times and 10 minutes apart in off-peak times; a GIS-based control centre; smartcard fare technology; buses running from 5am to midnight; and a model that incorporates incumbent taxi and bus operators.

There will be trunk, complementary and feeder routes. Trunk buses will have a capacity of 90 passengers, 80 percent seated and the balance standing. Complementary buses will have a capacity of 60 passengers, while the feeder buses will carry 32 passengers, with the same seating and standing ratios.

Construction phases
The first phase of construction, Phase 1A, will be completed in time for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009™ in April 2009. This route will run from Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto to Jeppestown, and further north to Sandton. It will consist of 40 kilometres of a special bus lane running along the centre of the road, with 48 stations along the way.

There will be 188 trunk buses, 102 feeder buses and 350 complementary buses picking up passengers.

Phase 1B, to be completed in April 2010, in time for the FIFA 2010 World Cup™, will comprise 86 kilometres and 102 stations. It will connect Dobsonville to Parktown, through Rosebank, and up to Rivonia, with a link east to Alexandra.

In this phase 412 trunk buses, 367 feeder buses, and 350 complementary buses will be travelling the roads.

The full phase one, consisting of 122 kilometres and 150 stations, will be completed by April 2013. This will bring Lenasia, down south, into the route, as well as Eastgate, with links to Randburg and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Some 427 trunk buses, 413 feeder buses and 350 complementary buses will be transporting passengers.

The full system of 330 kilometres will run from Orange Farm in the south, right through to Midrand in the north, with routes going west to Protea Glen in Soweto and Westgate, and passing through Northgate and Fourways. The BRT will also run to the airport, and to Southcrest, through City Deep, in the southeast.

A circular inner city route will service residents and workers.

Passenger numbers
The number of daily passengers expected in Phase 1A is 262 000, jumping to 391 000 in Phase 1B, and escalating to 430 000 by the end of the Phase 1. This involves 640 buses, 1 129 buses and 1 190 buses, consecutively.

The capital budget for the BRT system is estimated at R2,032-billion, with the City supplying R242-million for the 2007/08 period. Some R571-million has been secured so far. The estimate for the operating budget is R29-million, with R11-million secured, and the City putting up R4,3-million.

Some eight kilometres along the Soweto Highway have been constructed, while progress continues along Saratoga Avenue in Doornfontein.

Mpofu expressed her department's excitement at being associated with Joburg's BRT project. "It will be a lasting legacy for public transport."

Masondo concluded by saying: "We would therefore like to see the taxi industry, bus industry, organisations of civil society, the various communities as well as the government continuing to work together. What we need is partnership and more partnership."

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