Towards 2020 : public transport strategy and action plan

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:During the course of 2006, the Department of Transport prepared a public transport strategy and action plan for submission to the Cabinet. Cabinet approved the release of the Draft Public Transport Strategy for public consultation in October 2006. The Draft Public Transport Strategy was circulated among a wide range of stakeholders and was also the subject of two days of deliberation at the Transport Indaba - hosted by the Minister of Transport in October 2006. The strategy was followed by the development of an Action Plan, a process which involved the DoT in an engagement with 6 metropolitan cities and 6 other cities as well as the SA Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) - with regard to developing a Phase 1 (2007-2010) package of catalytic integrated rapid rail and road corridors. An estimated costing of these Phase 1 integrated rapid public transport networks was undertaken and was incorporated into a funding and institutional framework within the Action Plan. Cabinet approved the Action Plan in April 2007 and the Department is currently interacting with the cities and districts to kick-start the detailed network operational planning and costing between April and September 2007 in order to create the basis for the Phase 1 implementation from 2007-2010. The Action Plan engagement with the 12 cities to date has also aimed to integrate the 2010 Legacy components of the Public Transport Infrastructure and Systems Fund (PTIF). The cities’ PTIF proposals were used as a basis for developing the Phase 1 catalytic package for the Public Transport Action Plan. However, cities were encouraged to go beyond their initial 2010 Legacy proposals – if required – in order to fully align with the Public Transport Strategy’s thrust of moving to the initial stage of integrated rapid public transport networks that can retain existing users as well as serve as an alternative for car users. The Action Plan is also integrated with the implementation aspects of the draft Rural Transport Strategy. In this regard, the current work in 3 district municipalities will be scaled up to form a strategic Phase 1 Rural public transport package and it is intended that the Action Plan will aim for strategic full-scale implementation in at least 6 rural districts over the Phase 1 and 2 period (2007-2014).