PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FOR SEAMLESS MOBILITY IN GAUTENG

Public transport in Gauteng is undergoing a complete makeover. Busses, trains and metered taxis will have to adhere to new standards of service while also offering commuters easy transfers through a single ticketing system for all types of public transport.

Improvements will be managed by establishing a new authority by July this year. Called the Gauteng Transport Management Authority, it will be piloted in 2009 and will include all subsidised public transport services, the municipal bus operators such as Metrobus and Pretoria City Transport, the proposed new Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRT) for Johannesburg and Tshwane, Gautrain and its bus feeder systems and the Wits and Tshwane Metrorail services.

“It is essential that we get this system right.  It should make public transport more accessible, convenient and affordable and reduce travelling times as well as provide spin-offs that will lead to further investment in public transport.  Good roads play a significant role in economic development and ensuring the easy movement of goods and people,” said Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa during his State of the Province address on 18 February.

Apart from the upgrading of existing roads, new freeways will also be built in Gauteng, the economic heartland of South Africa. However, due to its rapid economic and population growth, integrated solutions need to be implemented in order to ease escalating traffic congestion.

The revamping and modernisation of public transport and roads is aimed at creating a co-ordinated, integrated transport system for the entire province. It will also establish Gauteng as a Global City Region that uses international standards of service delivery with seamless mobility between municipalities provided by different modes of transport.

Commitment to improvements were outlined by Gauteng MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works, Ignatius Jacobs when announcing his departmental key priorities and programmes for the 2008/9 financial year.

A key component of the integrated transport system is Gautrain, a turnkey initiative of the Gauteng Provincial Government. It will bring global standards of public transport services to the province while simultaneously stimulating economic mobility, social development and a new urban form that will be established in the Tshwane, Ekhuruleni and Johannesburg triangle. Restructuring the urban form and landscape, development is already densifying along the Gautrain route, especially along its stations.

Gautrain’s bus feeder network system will complement existing public transport and commuter rail services in transporting passengers to and from stations within a 15km radius. These will be linked to the planned BRT systems enabling commuters to transfer seamlessly between municipal busses in their suburbs and Gautrain’s busses.