24-hour public transport system on the cards for SA

South African commuters will in the future have an affordable and accessible 16 to 24-hour public commuter system in place to ferry them to social events, work and play in the cities.

Addressing media on Tuesday shortly before his department's Budget Vote, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said the face of the country's public transport system was to change forever.

"We have firm commitment to improve public transport in a way that ordinary South Africans can enjoy their democracy via accessible and affordable, safe and reliable, public transport.

"We have huge resources available now to help make the lives of ordinary South Africans better.

"We will give them a choice of how to travel - metro train, buses, taxis, metered taxis...," said Radebe.

Also addressing the media, Transport Director-General Mpumi Mpofu said transformation of the country's public commuter transport system had the potential to change the way the economy was run.

The majority of urban poor, she said, were still hustled out of the cities at five or six in the evenings.

They were, therefore, unable to use social facilities for entertainment in the cities because of lack of transport.

Making public transport available around the clock would mean that the public transport network would not only be used to get people to-and-from work but also to get people to their families for visits and to the city for entertainment.

Also, it would reach out to the late night workers, like nurses, who had difficulty getting home from late night shifts.

It will also benefit students who were unable to stay at a university library till late because there was no transport to get them home.

In peak hours, there would be transport available every five minutes, in off peak, every 15 to 20 minutes, and at night every hour.

"The public transport would run between 16 and 24 hours daily depending on the needs of an area," said Mpofu.

Minister Radebe said that in the next two years the country would see 5 000 railway police on trains, to ensure commuter safety.

He added that there would also be closed circuit televisions in place, which he believed would go a long way to provide safety for commuters.

Ms Mpofu said: "We want to open our cities for all to ensure integration, so that people can use facilities.

"We also believe that this will create jobs.

"At the moment shops close at around seven or eight in the evenings but if there is a 24-hour transport system, shops may decide to stay open later to reach late night commuters.

"...this can open a whole new opportunity in the economy. We will be able to run the economy differently.

"While we can't physically relocate poor people; this transformed public transport will at least provide them with access to these areas."

Ms Mpofu added that special needs and wheelchair access for all would be implemented in the networks.

There would also be a drive for appropriate pedestrian, cycling and park and ride facilities.

It will also include other non-motorized transport infrastructure in an attempt to get away from one person-one car on the roads of South Africa.

There was also discussion on possible penalties for using private transport.

The Public Transport Action Plan's Phase 1, which runs from 2007 until 2010, would be to fast track implementation programmes that target the initial development of high quality, Integrated Rapid Public Transport Networks (IRPTNs) in at least the 2010 host cities and at best 12 cities and six rural districts.

The essential feature of the Public Transport Strategy (2007 to 2010) is the phased extension of mode-based vehicle recapitalisation into IRPTNs.

Ms Mpofu said networks comprised an integrated package of rapid rail, bus, rapid transit and taxi and metered taxi priority networks, especially in major cities.

For instance, while the Gautrain will be the spine of the public transport in Gauteng, buses, taxis and metered taxis would be part of the integrated network so that people could get to the station from home and from their destination back to the station.

Another instance was how low-cost air travel had opened aviation to a lower economic sector but many were still unable to access the aviation sector because of high costs of getting to and from airports, mostly built on the outskirts.

There had to be a development of facilities for buses and taxis to make air transport accessible for the low to middle class commuter, said Mpofu.

It was hoped that the new proposed public transport system would attract more people and in this way keep fares down.

There would also be an opportunity to create jobs by training new bus and taxi drivers and with some shops staying open until late.

"Integrated fare structures will also be implemented through a common electronic fare system on all modes on the network, including payment for park and ride facilities etc," she said.

The key focus of the transport action plan was on initiating implementation in a speedy and highly visible manner with maximum impact, she said.

Successful implementation over the Phase 1 and Phase 2 periods (2007 to 2014) will see the improvement of public transport services for over half the country's population, said the DG.

She pointed out that this was ambitious programme - one that would require a concerted effort by the three spheres of government and all stake holders.

Catalytic projects (fast tracked projects) are intended to create the platform for a nationwide rollout of fully accessible networks in cities and districts by 2010 onwards.

To this end an amount of R9-billion has been allocated to focus on Public Transport over the MTEF period, R19,2-billion for airport infrastructure and R5,5-billion for National Roads Infrastructure and R8,5-billion for Passenger Rail Infrastructure.

"The key challenge in 2007 is to ensure detailed implementation and operational planning is finalised and in line with the Action Plan goals.

"This is going to require serious effort and investment capacity and resources based on an intergovernmental approach," said Mpofu.

- BuaNews