Analysts say that Transport Minister Jeff Radebe has made all the right noises about public transport being the legacy of the 2010 World Cup and, if the budget is anything to go on, the Cabinet fully endorses his view.
Trevor Manuel has allocated R6-billion to building public transport infrastructure over the next three years, on top of the R4-billion allocated in last year’s medium-term budget. This means R10-billion has been allocated to drive key infrastructure projects such as the Gautrain, the taxi recapitalisation programme, the upgrading of commuter rail services and various rapid-bus-transit systems.
Construction has begun on Jo’burg’s Rea Vaya rapid-bus-transit system, with the first phase expected to be completed in 2010. The city has allocated R2,2-million to the project over the medium-term period and it has been announced that environmentally friendly propulsion systems are being considered for the buses.
Cape Town, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay are planning similar rapid-bus-transit systems.
R2,4-billion has been allocated to upgrade commuter and long distance rail systems, with R1-billion set aside to upgrade 1Â 400 coaches.
This year will also see the start of the Gauteng freeway improvement scheme. By 2010, about 185km of freeway upgrading will have been completed on sections of the N1, N3 and N12. The estimated cost of the first phase of the project is R14,3-billion.
Transnet is planning to spend R78-billion in the next four years to upgrade infrastructure. Half of this will be spent upgrading the freight rail business with a major focus on rolling stock.
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