Public transport transformation : an incremental approach to delivering public transport systems in South Africa

Abstract

Paper presented at the 33rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7-10 July 2014 "Leading Transport into the Future", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.The rollout of Integrated Rapid Public Transport Networks (IRPTNs) in 13 cities across South Africa has been a significant step forward in the provision of safe, affordable and reliable public transport services to the communities of our cities and towns. The incorporation of the existing minibus taxi operators into these systems has fundamentally changed the role of local government and the existing operators in the provision of public transport services and these changes have not come without their risks. This paper explores some of the risks experienced by the current approach to the design of our IRPTNs and suggests an alternative approach to the transformation of public transport services in South Africa. This alternative approach attempts to build on the capacity that already exists within the public transport sector whilst still being able to deliver regular, reliable and affordable transport services without some of the institutional and financial strains currently being experienced.