A construction vehicle tars a Johannesburg road; over 600km of roads were tarred in the last financial year
The operating budget allocation of the Economic Growth Cluster amounts to R4.4-billion and a three-year capital budget allocation of R11.9-billion. This cluster plays a lead role in the implementation of the Corridors of Freedom.
The operating budget for the economic development department is R187-million in the 2015/16 financial year and R51-million for the three-year capital budget. The department is the main driver of economic development and transformation projects in the City and will focus on projects including SMME and entrepreneurial development; trade promotion and development; the Green Economy Technology Hub; inner city renewal; the Small Business Hub; and the construction of linear markets facilities in Alexandra and Kopanong.
Transportation
The operating budget for the transportation department is R1.5-billion for the 2015/16 financial year; the three-year capital budget allocation is R3.5-billion. The budget will fund projects including transit-oriented development priority areas such as the Rea Vaya rollout of Phase 1C from Parktown to Alexandra and eventually to Sandton. The City has invested in complete streets initiatives, adding pedestrian and cyclist paths in Braamfontein, Brixton and Soweto. These will continue to be rolled out in other communities such as Orange Farm, Ivory Park, Auckland Park and Rosebank, providing greener mobility alternatives.
Development planning
The department of development planning’s operating budget is R303-million for the 2015/16 financial year and a three-year capital budget of R1.3-billion. The department is responsible for the overall co-ordination of the Corridors of Freedom; the implementation of the inner city road map, aimed at revitalising bad buildings in the inner city; integrated planning, policy development and standard setting; and the Sustainable Human Settlements Urbanisation Plan. Backyard dwellings will be formalised, and prototypes will be demonstrated in Slovo Park.
Market
Joburg Market receives an operating budget of R347-million for the 2015/16 financial year, and a multi-year capital budget of R816-million. The market will continue to implement the Market of the Future project to ensure it remains competitive by introducing state-of-the-art facilities.
Property
Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) receives an operating budget of R456-million for the 2015/16 financial year and a three-year capital budget of R581-million. The company is responsible for managing the city’s public facilities and other public conveniences. The capital budget will focus on projects that include revamping of the informal trading stalls within the inner city; the Rissik Street Post Office Restoration Project; the Rosebank Linear Park redevelopment; new precinct redevelopment; and the Watt Street Interchange development.
Provision has been made for the JPC to do preparatory work under the Office Space Optimisation programme to revitalise the Metro Centre Precinct as well as other regional nodes.
Development
Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) receives an operating budget of R99-million for the 2015/16 financial year and a three-year capital budget of R829-million. JDA plays a development facilitation role on behalf of various city departments and will implement projects including inner city renewal, Rea Vaya rollout and other developments in priority implementation zones.
Roads
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has been allocated an operating budget of to R943-million in the 2015/16 financial year, which includes provision for additional capacity to maintain the positive trajectory it is on. JRA will emphasise implementing programmes that are part of the 10-year master plan such as the resurfacing of roads, the upgrading of gravel roads and closing open storm water channels. Gravel roads in areas in the North — especially in Wards 77, 78, 79, 80, 92, 110 and 111 — will be tarred.
“In the 2013/14 financial year, 623km of tarred roads were resurfaced, a 700% increase compared to the previous financial year, and 2 277km of gravel roads were graded or maintained during the year, a 186% increase. Preliminary capacity assessment work will soon begin on the upgrade of the M1 and M2 motorways,” said Makhubo.
Metrobus
Metrobus is allocated an operating budget of R612-million and a three-year capital budget of R603-million. The company has secured the procurement of 150 duel fuel “green” buses, with the first batch due for delivery in June 2015. Some of the existing fleet will also be converted to run on both gas and diesel.