Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi, has announced that residents of Gauteng can expect a fully integrated and developed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the not too distant future.

Vadi was speaking at the launch of the Provincial Transport Month under the theme “Transport, Moving the Economy Forward!” in Johannesburg.

“Together with the municipalities concerned, we have developed a set of interventions aimed at transforming public transport into an integrated, reliable, accessible, safe and affordable system.

“Over the next three to five years, the full development of an integrated bus rapid transit system across the three metropolitan municipalities in our province will become visible,” he explained.

Gauteng will be using Transport Month to focus on the road freight and rail transport segments as contributors to economic development. Vadi says it will also use the campaign to examine public transport initiatives on the African continent and promote non-motorised transport initiatives in the province. This approach is in line with the 25-Year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25).

The MEC said the progress made in respect of Rea Vaya and A re Yengin Johannesburg and Tshwane respectively are already changing the perception of public transport.

“Work on a similar system in Ekurhuleni has already begun and we are examining the possibility of extending the system to the West Rand,” he pointed out.

Vadi pointed out that the Gautrain was proof that the province could deliver on large-scale public transport infrastructure projects.

The Gautrain has an average daily ridership of 55 000 passengers and 21 000 passengers on its buses. It recently won the Global Air Rail Alliance Award for customer service excellence on its airport line. A feasibility study on the further expansion of the Gautrain network is currently being undertaken.