Gauteng’s commuters must be encouraged to use public transport, the province’s transport minister Ignatius Jacobs said on Sunday.
He acknowledged that Gauteng’s public transport system was underdeveloped, but said it was also underused.
He said half of the passenger trips in the province were made on public transport and the other half on private transport.
”Most trips during peak times are made to schools, while 32% of trips are made to work,” said Jacobs.
The research also showed that 68& of households did not own cars.
Jacobs said that providing a public tansport system that would be ”a mode of choice” for most people was a ”huge challenge”.
However, it would ensure better use of road space than the existing reliance on private transport.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said last week that the government would launch a hi-tech traffic management system in a bid to reduce congestion on the Ben Schoeman highway between Johannesburg and Tshwane.
About 160 000 cars used the highway each day, Radebe said in launching Transport Month at the Midrand fire department.
While the Gautrain will go a long way in addressing this, South Africa’s future prosperity depends on increased investment in public transport.
”We are … under no illusions about the magnitude of the task at hand …”
The government has to ensure the public transport system is in line with national policy imperatives and contributes to economic growth and development.
Cities like Tshwane, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban need a world-class infrastructure and transport system that maximises economic efficiency, said Radebe.
He said the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) — a five-year pilot project being implemented on the Ben Schoeman highway — will help improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion.
The R51-million ITS transmits real-time traffic and road conditions to road users, traffic authorities and emergency services.
The Department of Transport is also considering a freeway network expansion including construction of a motorway between Sandton and Pretoria West, and between Soweto and Ekurhuleni.
Meanwhile, it spent R2,8-billion this year alone improving rail operations and infrastructure. An additional R7,7-billion is being spent on the taxi industry under the recapitalisation programme, he said.
A further R2,3-billion has been invested in the bus industry, and R3,8-billion is going to the public transport in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
”Multi-faceted initiatives are being implemented to influence road users’ behaviour to rethink their travelling choices,” said Radebe.
The Transport Month campaign will encourage people to walk, cycle, use public transport or carry several people per vehicle.
Jacobs explained that the congestion and gridlock had accompanied rapid economic growth and the development of the motor manufacturing industry.
”Road infrastructure continues to be under immense pressure due to competition for road space from industrial, public and private road users.
”The state and lifespan of the road network continues to degenerate beyond its holding capacity as a result of the pressure exerted on it,” said Jacobs.
”We must introduce a usage of road space that would ensure that each of the modes of travel, such as taxis, buses, rail, heavy-duty vehicles and private cars makes optimal use of socio-economic infrastructure,” he said.
”We need to develop a transport system that creates a one-stop centre of socio-economic activity.”
Jacobs said the government had already started improving transport infrastructure by building roads in disadvantaged communities and public transport terminals. – Sapa