Formulating transport authorities at the municipal level

Abstract

Paper presented at the 23rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 12 - 15 July 2004 "Getting recognition for the importance of transport", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. The National Land Transport Transition Act provides for the establishment of transport authorities at the municipal sphere of government. The concept behind transport authorities is to improve transport service delivery at the local sphere of government by grouping transport functions into a single well-managed institutional structure. A number of investigations are currently under way in various provinces to establish transport authorities at both metropolitan municipalities as well as district municipalities. This paper identifies a number of the issues and considerations that need to be addressed in the establishment of a transport authority. It addresses issues related to the area of the transport authority, its functions, and the position of a transport executive in relation to local government legislation.