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Metro police officers will patrol the Rea
Vaya network 24-7 to crack down on illegal use of the dedicated bus lanes and
ease congestion.
TRAFFIC congestion caused by undisciplined
motorists and taxis on the Rea Vaya network are being addressed by a team of
dedicated Johannesburg metro police (JMPD) officers. The 40-strong team has been in action since 20
November.
Tjhere will be patrols on the entire Rea Vaya BRT route
The JMPD was originally only deployed on an
ad hoc basis to patrol the network, but the City soon realised that stronger
law enforcement controls were necessary because of the additional congestion
caused by unauthorised use of the dedicated Rea Vaya lanes by other
motorists. Some buses were delayed by up
to 30 minutes as a result.
"A team of 40 Johannesburg metro police
officers has been allocated to patrol the entire Rea Vaya BRT route on a
dedicated basis," the City confirmed in a press statement.
Problem areas where police presence will be
increased substantially include Twist and Noord streets; and Twist and De Villiers
streets, as well as a portion of the Soweto Highway at the entrance to Orlando
East. The entire network will be
patrolled on a 24-hour basis, with the focus on safety for commuters and
pedestrians inside buses and around the stations.
Invalid tickets
Fare evasion has also been identified as a problem by Rea Vaya management.
Increasingly, passengers are found on buses without valid tickets. The JMPD
will also help in enforcing the payment of fares and other transport-related
legislation.
In the new year, all 143 buses of the Rea
Vaya phase 1A network will be back on the road, boosted by the police presence
to ease traffic along the network. Commuters can expect a slick service in
2010, confirms the communications and marketing manager for Rea Vaya, CC
Mackay.
From 18 November, the City temporarily
halted the two circular routes in the inner city - to Newtown and Braamfontein
- so that the Rea Vaya service could be improved for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The inner city routes were not well
frequented, with an average of only 200 passengers a day using the network.
The trunk route between Thokoza Park and Ellis
Park, however, has been so well supported that the City has needed to increase
the frequency of buses during certain times as well as start the service
earlier on weekends.
Rea Vaya phase 1A will be fully operational
and under the control of a taxi-owned company in the first quarter of the new
year.
The member of the mayoral committee for
transport, Rehana Moosajee, has assured commuters that measures will be put in
place on a continuous basis with a view to improve safety conditions, thus
fulfilling the City's promise of a safe, fast and reliable public transport
system.
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