Briefing on Bus Rapid Transit System BRT Project
Briefing on Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) Project implementation in South African cities: Phase 1 – Progress Update Portfolio Committee on Transport 15 September 2009
Outline of Presentation 1. 2. 3. Update: National Joint Working Group processes Update: Status of Planning and Implementation in the 12 cities Next Steps
National Joint Working Group • Very good and considerable progress has been made in discussing and agreeing on the mandate of the National Joint Working Group (NJWG) and the roles for all stakeholders • A number of meetings have been held with the taxi industry and the civil society formations separately and jointly • Currently the priority is the finalisation of the Memorandum of Agreement so that the process of engagement can begin 3
Status of Planning and Implementation in cities • Johannesburg – Rea Vaya • Cape Town • Nelson Mandela Bay • Tshwane • Other cities
Bus Rapid Transit in RSA • In the short-term Johannesburg, Cape Town and Tshwane metropolitan municipalities are planning full BRTs as part of their long-term IRPTN. • Nelson Mandela Bay is a partial BRT. • ALL BRTs need to include existing operators and labour (especially the minibus industry) as contracted operators. • Other cities are commencing Operational Plans
Commence Phase 2 Operational Planning Monitoring, Evaluation and Probity Initiation of Operations In Joburg Rea Vaya we are here Vehicle Testing and Staff Training Establish Network Authority Construction Environmental Impact Assessments Access Audit and engagement with Special Needs Sector Vehicle Orders Infrastructure Design and Architecture Marketing and Communication Plans Business Plan Process Financing Process Phase 1 Network Operational Plans Scoping Studies Public Transport Demand Analysis Network Planning & Implementation Process BRTs include business & infrastructure aspects. The Business Plan deals with inclusion of current operators & workers. It is the main risk for a successful pilot phase Sequence of Actions
The Vision and long term strategy • 85% of all residents within 1 km of a Rapid PT Network by 2020 • Upgraded fleets, facilities, stops & stations • Extended hours of operation (16 hrs to 24 hrs operations) • Peak frequencies of 5 -10 min & off-peak frequencies of 10 -30 min • Special needs and wheelchair access • Safe and secure operations monitored by a Control Centre • Electronic fare integration when making transfers • Integrated feeders including walking/cycling and taxi networks • Integration with metered taxi and long distance services • A car competitive PT option can enable strict car use management
Johannesburg Status – Starter service launched on 30 August 09 • Phase 1 a Starter service launched on 30 August 2009 • Official Launch at Westgate Station • Free rides • Why Starter Service: The city felt that BRT was such a new and complex project that starting SMALL and PILOTING certain aspects has a lot of advantages: • It allowed them to test the systems, stations and buses, and • Iron out mistakes • How is the Starter service run: It is currently being run with: • A Special Purpose Vehicle or temporary company set up by the HSBC Bank who is arranging the funding for the buses • Drivers and other workers recruited from Phase 1 A affected operators were tested and received training
Details of the starter service • Only Trunk Route in Soweto (Lakeview Station to Ellis Park Station) • Inner City complementary (Braamfontein loop and Newtown loop) • 2 shifts only focusing on peaks: 5 h 00 to 8 h 30 and 15 h 00 to 19 h 30 • Frequency peak: on trunk every 5 mins, inner city every 10 – 15 mins • Frequency off peak: trunk 20 -30 mins, inner city 10 -15 mins
What is at each station? • • • Three security guards Two cleaners One Cashier One station ambassador Two volunteers They have been recruited from affected operators as well as through the Pathways Project who have tried to ensure that workers and volunteers are sourced from surrounding communities 10
Safety and security • Control room and Joint Control Centre at JRA with rapid response capabilities • Disaster management plan in place • Safety and security strategy agreed by Mayoral Committee • Detailed operational plans in place by SAPS and JMPD – Will have strong presence at stations and on buses initially • Private security at stations
Fares and fare collection • Will start with temporary system: – Paper tickets – Ticket validating machines at stations and on buses for complementary routes – Independent inspectorate • Fares: To be bought at all stations and 180 agents and shops around stations – R 8 for a transfer ticket for 2 hours ( trunk and inner city loops) – R 5 for a Trunk ticket only – R 3 for a circle route only • Will be stickers on windows of shop to indicate tickets are available • Commuters urged to purchase tickets before arrive at station to avoid queues.
Johannesburg – Implementation Progress of Phase 1 a Starter Service The overall impression after travelling on Rea Vaya for 3 days during the launch and on 2 subsequent days is as follows: • Customers are happy, including those in wheel-chairs; • Staff are impressed and motivated; • Staff were initially intimidated by the “shootings” but have settled down; • There is some frustration about boarding queues but these can be alleviated by frequency improvements; • Improvements can be effected as management competence grows
Johannesburg – Implementation Progress of Phase 1 a Starter Service • Good aspects • Clean, quiet, smooth-riding buses; • Well motivated & enthusiastic drivers & attendants all drawn from the taxi industry; • Immaculate, visible and aesthetically pleasing stations which are secure, accessible and well ventilated; • Positive reaction from customers including disabled persons, pregnant women, elderly and children (interviews with passengers); and • Rea Vaya brand image & many others
Rea Vaya facts and figures • • • Passengers per day: 16 000 (8 000 one way) Revenue per day: R 70 000 Trips per day: 151 Kilometres per day: 5 100 Breakdowns (total): 9 of which 5 are due to tyres Busiest stations in: Thokoza Park with 1 900 pax per day (24%) then Diepkloof & Lake View • Busiest stations out : Art Gallery: 1300 pass pd (16%) then Carlton and Library Gardens • 3 rd Party accidents (total): 4 (all minor) + Numerous scratches 15
Cape Town Status – Implementing Phase 1 a for May 2010. • Original plan for Phase 1 a for 2010/11 • 25 stations • 139 feeder stops • 156 vehicles • 115 000 passenger trips a day • 8 taxi associations and 2 bus companies are directly affected • City of CT requires additional funding to complete the full Phase 1 a and is currently discussing this with Do. T and National Treasury • R 600 m worth of construction tenders have been awarded with another R 1 bn to be spent in the next 12 months subject to funding negotiations Various Service Contracts - Tenders for the control centre equipment & management, fare management system are being evaluated. The station services contract is in preparation ( to address value chain requirements. ) •
Cape Town Status – Implementing Phase 1 a • A Prospectus for vehicle operating company has been completed in preparation for contract negotiations with existing operators (in line with requirements of the NLTA. ) • A dedicated Project Management Unit being established to manage the overall IRT project • Current funding allocations (timing and quantity) will result in delayed project roll out (i. e. infrastructure, technology and contracted services. ) • Project team reviewing programme to deliver 2010 support services
Cape Town Implementing Phase 1 a for 2010 links CBD, Greenpoint, Seapoint, Airport and West Coast from Milnerton to Atlantis 18
Nelson Mandela Bay Status – Partial BRT but aiming to contract a full city-wide network by 2010 • Phases 1 & 2: • 45 km of trunk-feeder bus corridors • 6 km of BRT • All current taxi & bus operations will be a single network by 2010 • Network to comprise 5 contract packages aiming to transport over 400 000 passenger trips a day
Nelson Mandela Bay
Tshwane Status – Will be work in progress in 2010 with 2011 as a date for full operation of Phase 1 • 68 km full BRT linking Mabopane to Mamelodi via CBD and Menlyn • Planning Enhanced Bus Corridors from Atteridgeville to Mamelodi via CBD • Line 1 from Mabopane to CBD: - 37 km of lanes - 17 stations - 58 vehicles - 40 000 passenger trips a day
Tshwane Status – Will be work in progress in 2010 with 2011 as a date for full operation of Phase 1 Affected Operators • Public transport modal split in Tshwane: – 49% taxi – 30% bus – 21% rail • 16 out of 45 taxi associations • North West Star BGT Mabopane Bus Service – interim contract, NWS owned by NWP • Putco Soshanguve Bus Service – interim contract • Mamelodi Bus Service – Putco - tendered contract • Atteridgeville Bus Service – ABS – tendered contract • Tshwane Bus Service - municipality
Tshwane Status – Liaison with the PT industry • City of Tshwane is a active member of the National Joint Working Committee • Meeting with City of Tshwane Taxi Councils held on 9 September 2009 – engagement plan discussed • Meeting with Bus Operators held on 10 September 2009 • Public Transport Summit planned for January 2009 • Meeting with Gauteng Commuter Organisation held on 25 July 2009 – regular meetings scheduled • Meeting with Tshwane Education Transport Council held on 24 August 2009 23
Tshwane Status – BRT 2010 Scope • Construct BRT lanes along some 6 - 11 kms of road of line 1 • Construct BRT stations at Mabopane station and on DF Malan Drive near its intersection with Boom Street • Provision of an event specific service and part of the overall 2010 FIFA© World Cup Transport Plan, utilising completed elements of the BRT network
Tshwane Status – Conclusions • The Tshwane BRT project is progressing well despite various setbacks in the early stages • A number of crucial tenders have been awarded/are in the final process of awarding which will take the project forward significantly • The are a number of challenges which will have to be managed in the short and medium term • Only an event specific service for the World Cup will be provided as part of the overall World Cup Transport Plan for the City of Tshwane
Progress in other cities • Buffalo City - has completed Draft Operational Plan • Polokwane & Rustenburg – Operational Plans in progress • Mbombela – IPTN Operational Plan complete – Business Plan in preparation • Ekurhuleni & Ethekwini – Operational Plans in tender procurement process • Mangaung & Msunduzi – have Operational Plan tenders in preparation • Operational network planning will commence in 2011 in the Rural districts 26
Conclusions - observations 1. “Affected” local taxi interests are participating constructively in municipal BRT / taxi transformation negotiations (Co. J, NMB, Co. CT) 2. A high level of security is needed, as cities implement new services 3. Credible mass Communication still needed to win the support of trade unions, users & the public 4. Law Enforcement is essential to protect new infrastructure and stations - the starting point must be BRT lane enforcement 5. From the Jo’burg experience surveillance and Control Centre vigilance must be stepped up
Conclusion - essential short-term actions needed by Government • Approval for bus procurement by cities; • Regulations in support of BRT; • Clarification of guarantees given to taxi interests (NJWG); • Support from security and law enforcement agencies; and • Urgent engagement with South African Bus Association (SABOA)
Thank You 29
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