Staggering figures around the development of Gauteng emerged at the Gauteng provincial legislature’s budget speeches in June this year, including the figures cited by Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi that around 20 000 people migrate to the province monthly, making upgrades to critical infrastructure absolutely vital.
“Roads and public transport link and integrate whole communities and facilitate the seamless movement of people, goods and services,” said Vadi. “It also helps us to re-fashion geography and spatially reconfigure the Gauteng City Region along the five development corridors identified by the provincial government.
“Roads and public transport infrastructure is the backbone of the transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation agenda of the Gauteng provincial government.
“The planned expansion of the Gautrain rapid rail system will link Tshwane and Ekurhuleni with Lanseria International Airport. Together with this, the acquisition over the next decade of new rolling stock by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) for Metrorail operations in Gauteng will change the daily commuting experiences of our people.”
Vadi said that in Gauteng province, Metrorail remains the primary mode of mass transit, with one million passengers riding its trains daily. “We must modernise and transform this mode of transport, ensuring it is integrated with other modes such as the bus rapid transport (BRT) systems and the Gautrain.”
He also commented that while a fully-fledged Gauteng rail authority would be ideal, there are barriers, such as there being three metros and therefore three rail authorities, thus there is a need for some amendments to the legislature to overcome this.
“Prasa’s proposed development of a new rail maintenance and construction depot in Nigel will strengthen the country’s capacity to position rail as the backbone of a future public transport system. This infrastructure-led growth of our economy — away from its total dependence on consumer-led growth, would give us the much needed impetus to lay the foundation for broader socioeconomic development in our province.”
Vadi commented that transport-related developments must be seen against the backdrop of human settlements that are being spearheaded by the private sector, saying that new housing developments such as Steyn City, Waterfall City, River City, Syferfontein and Savannah City, to meet the projected population growth, will transform the cityscape in different municipalities in the province.
“Roads and transport officials in different spheres of government should ensure that there are appropriate road and transport networks to accommodate the additional users,” he stressed.
“Generally, the deficit in sub-Saharan Africa in public transport and road infrastructure remains a challenge in the region as it leads to higher costs of production. We have to overcome this deficit progressively as it acts as a constraint on our economic growth.
“This means that we must continue to maintain the existing road network as we build new roads and public transport facilities, therefore our provincial government is investing heavily in the rehabilitation and upgrade of key arterial routes such as the N12 and N14 freeways.”
Vadi said that over R1-billion will be spent rehabilitating the N12 and N14, where work has already begun. He also stressed that both these freeways will not be tolled in future.
Easing congestion
Outlined in Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s state of the province address, Gauteng province has now been segmented into five corridors (north, west, east, south and Johannesburg city centre). Linking and developing these corridors, each with their own specific economic challenges, is the legislature’s highest priority.
In the central corridor the reconstruction of William Nicol Drive has been completed and will be officially opened during July. Cedar Road and the K46 will be upgraded into dual carriageways.
In the northern corridor the department is reconstructing the R511 from Erasmia to Diepsloot/N14 and a portion of Garsfontein Road will become a dual carriageway. Phase 1A of A Re Yeng was launched in November 2014 and Phase 1B, from Wonderboom to the Tshwane CBD, is scheduled to be launched in November this year.
“In addition,” said Vadi, “the Tshwane bus services are to be recapitalised and services expanded to eastern parts of the city, with 120 new buses procured and additional drivers employed for this purpose. The city is upgrading Maunde, Simon Vermooten, Garsfontein and Olivenhoutbosch roads, which are regional connectors.
“Currently, it is finalising its integrated transport plans, which will consider the easing of traffic congestion from the north through PWV9 and linking Wonderboom Airport.
“In the eastern corridor, we will upgrade the R103 into a dual carriageway between Van Dyk Road and Diana Road.
“The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has already constructed the first 5km of the dedicated BRT trunk route and work has commenced on the next 5km. Construction of the stations is also underway with six stations targeted for completion by mid-2016.
“The Transport Management Centre, which will be used for monitoring the buses, will be completed by the end of July 2015 and the process to purchase the first 52 Euro V buses required for the launch has been initiated. The Rhodesfield road network is to be upgraded to improve accessibility into the area as part of the OR Tambo Aerotropolis development.”
Vadi says that in the southern corridor the department has completed 50% of the construction of Phase 2 of the R82 into a dual carriageway between Eikenhof and Walkerville. The Sedibeng District Municipality is in the process of developing a new five-year transport plan, initiating a feasibility study for the Vaal Logistics Hub and a bus rapid transport system to link the sprawling townships of the Vaal with the CBD, also completing the Taxido intermodal facility at the Vereeniging station.
“In the western corridor the department’s most significant project is the rehabilitation of the N12 freeway from Eldorado Park up to the boundary of the North West Province. This will be of enormous benefit to the mining houses in the region and to the freight traffic coming from the Western and Northern Cape provinces. The West Rand District Municipality is engaged in constructing new township roads and several taxi ranks to facilitate mobility across communities and the department intends launching the West Rand bus service in April 2016.”
In concluding his report, Vadi said: “Let me emphasise that the provincial government has made huge investments and will continue to invest in road infrastructure and public transport which is safe, reliable, affordable, accessible and of a high standard. For this we are guided by our 25-year integrated transport master plan.
“The goal is to incentivise commuters of every socioeconomic category to travel on public transport. This is good for our environment, eases traffic congestion and promotes wellness.”
Going by the numbers
The 2015/2016 budget tabled by the Gauteng department of roads and transport on June 23 is R6.6-billion for its core programmes. This has been earmarked for five programmes, R318-million for administration, R2.26-billion for transport infrastructure, R2.19-billion for transport operations, R281-million for transport regulations and R1.5-billion for the Gautrain.
According to Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi, the department is the primary contributor towards its own revenue, generated by the Gauteng provincial government through motor vehicle registration and licensing fees. Revenue in this category is expected to grow to R3.1-billion as a result of annual increases in tariffs and more efficient methods of collection through the South African Post Office and the registration authorities.
Tickets for you!
Technology is very much part of the greater vision and the future holds potential for electronic ticketing across all forms of transport, showing critical boarding and disembarkation points. Vadi believes one ticket for all modes of transport, versus a wallet full of tickets, is possible with private sector buy-in and the right architecture and that this will also provide invaluable data for route planning and management.