Considerations with regard to a BRT for Tshwane

Abstract

Paper presented at the 26th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9 - 12 July 2007 "The challenges of implementing policy?", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:The City of Tshwane is faced with a challenge to improve public transport within the city. Although the image of public transport in the City is poor, a number of events/trends are providing a window of opportunity to address the situation. These events and trends include: •Soccer World Cup 2010 •The decision to go ahead with the construction of Gautrain, with three stations within the Tshwane area .The taxi recapitalisation programme, which is expected to go ahead soon after years of delays •Increased congestion •The city densification and corridor development land use strategy that has been approved by Council. The City of Tshwane identified bus rapid transit (BRT) as one of the possible methodologies to improve the image, quality and utilisation of public transport within the city. The purpose of the paper is to report on the aspects which are being considered in the evaluation of the suitability of BRT for Tshwane. These aspects include: •Critical nodes that should be linked in a fast and effective way, including commercial nodes, the Loftus sport stadium, industrial nodes, dense residential areas and Gautrain stations. •A possible BRT network, including the phasing of the implementation thereof •Passenger volumes required to justify such a service •Appropriate infrastructure measures •Possible public transport vehicles configurations •Integration with other public transport modes. It is hoped that by opening these considerations to wider discussion, that valuable input will be received that will contribute to guide the Tshwane Council on the way to go with regard to BRT as a measure to improve public transport in Tshwane.