Citizen Online
Friday, December 01, 2006
JOHANNESBURG - More than R2 billion will be spent in the next three years to create Johannesburg's new 94km Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit infrastructure
Executive Director of Transportation Bob Stanway said the Department of Transport would allocate R500 million from the Public Transport Infrastructure Fund.
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy and South American experts have also assisted in conducting a study on the project.
The report has already been approved by the city of Joburg. Rea Vaya will culminate with the creation of exclusive median busways in certain city roads.
It is expected to be operational by April 2009.
The routes are Nasrec-Newtown-Ellis Park, Dobsonville-inner city-Lenasia-Highgate-Sunninghill, Randburg-inner city, Alexandra-inner-city-Regina Mundi, Braamfontein-inner city and the city centre circle.
The network will have closed stations, pre-board fare collection, articulated 160 seater buses, and a bus every one to three minutes during peak hours.
It will integrate with an array of other services such as a feeder system, pedestrian corridors, Metro Rail, bicycles, Gautrain, metered taxis and private cars.
Fares will be on a par with the current rate.
Roads in sections such as Empire Road in Parktown may require widening to accommodate the busway.
No expropriation of land will be required.
But the city will have to overcome challenges such as conducting an environmental impact study, overcoming traffic congestion during construction and ensuring participation by the minibus taxi industry.
A tender process will determine which companies operate the network, including current public transport operators.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Rehana Moosajee said: "A few taxi organisations were involved in the study process and expressed an interest, but we will not be forcing anyone to come on board."