|
The mayor talked up the City's new Rea Vaya network, listing its benefits to a group of community leaders at a transport summit.
THE Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network will improve the standard of public transport and will take priority over private transport.
Speaking at a Public Transport Summit on Saturday, 15 August at Nasrec,
Executive mayor Amos Masondo and portfolio head for environment and corporate service Matshidiso Mfikoe
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo told community leaders that the BRT would provide a new and efficient transport option for the city's residents and visitors.
The summit was held by the City to inform community leaders about the latest developments regarding the new public transport system. It will have a number of benefits.
"Rea Vaya will enable transit-oriented development along key transport corridors and literally bring Soweto closer to the central business district," he said.
It will also have an impact in terms of economic growth. It would increase mobility and reduce congestion and the cost of transport for business and workers.
The environment will also benefit. "Rea Vaya with its low-sulphur engines and advanced pollution reduction equipment will certainly contribute to sustainable development."
Masondo added that the City was working on providing an integrated transport network for Joburg and the province.
"Stations are being built at key places along the routes and we are making sure that at each station, there will be place for other public transport mechanisms, including BRT, other buses and mini-buses to be able to drop off and collect passengers."
In this light, Joburg was also planning to set up a new taxi rank on one of the floors above the Gautrain station in Sandton.
"We are also planning to offer the same common shelter for all buses and taxis. And, in order to simplify matters for commuters, we are trying to ensure that they are able to use the same ticket for Gautrain, BRT and Metrobus, but this may take a bit of time to achieve."
The mayor explained that the City was working closely with Metrorail in improving its rail services.
"There is no doubt that the Gautrain and the BRT Rea Vaya will raise the standard of public transport. This will put pressure on other public transport operators to also improve their services, including mini-bus taxis and Metrobus," he said.
Taxi ranks
Possibilities for partnerships with the private sector to create more space for taxi and bus operators were being explored.
The summit was held by the City to inform community leaders about the latest developments regarding the new public transport system (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
"Many of our ranks are not well maintained and others are overflowing. Urgent attention is required at the Kazerne and Park City ranks, which are eyesores. We are planning to do some basic improvements in this financial year."
The BRT has met some resistance, with the taxi industry in particular concerned about its impact and possible job losses. However, Masondo stressed that there would be no job losses in the industry as a result of the new network.
"Most informal jobs in the taxi industry will be replaced by formal jobs in the BRT operating companies, with properly regulated conditions of employment and improved working conditions such as shorter hours," he said.
He added that the City was committed to offering local operators affected by Rea Vaya a stake in a new bus operating company. "The government is committed that the taxi industry should be the significant beneficiaries, which will enable them to get shares in a bus company with no equity other than proof they are incumbent operators."
After listening to the mayor, community leaders were divided into groups to discuss various issues relating to Rea Vaya.
Starter services
Starter services will begin on 30 August - and people will be able to ride the bus for free to mark the day.
Phase 1A routes will run from Regina Mundi Church in Soweto to Orlando, and from Soweto along Pat Mbatha Highway to the inner city, along Market and Commissioner streets. They will carry on to Ellis Park on the eastern edge of the city centre.
Phase 1B routes will run from Soweto past the universities of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand, through to Sandton. This section is scheduled to be completed in May 2010, in time for the FIFA 2010 World Cup™.
Later, Phase 1C routes will run in an east-west direction from Alexandra to Cresta.
Commuters will pay R3 a ticket on the inner city routes, R5 a ticket for trunk routes and R8 for any number of transfers in two hours.
During the starter services, buses using the inner city routes will operate between 5am and 8.30am and between 3pm and 8.30pm at 10- to 15-minute intervals. Buses on the trunk routes will also operate between 5am and 8.30am and between 3pm and 8.30pm but at 20- to 30-minute intervals.
Related stories:
|
