The adoption of the Gauteng Transport Authority Bill is expected to pave the way for better transport planning across the province.

The bill was adopted by the Provincial Legislature on Friday and provides for the creation of a Transport Authority across the Gauteng city region, involving the provincial department of roads and transport and municipal transport administrations.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Dr Ismail Vadi says the new bill is a “vital step for integrated transport planning and co-ordination of public transport operations across the province.”

A Gauteng Transport Authority

“Over the past four years we’ve worked hard to conceptualise the transport authority, consult municipalities on the structure and study international best practice to get to this point,” said Vadi.

The Gauteng Transport Authority will be governed by a Board of Directors, which will be broadly representative of the authorities it is co-ordinating as well as transport specialists. Once legally established, the authority will co-ordinate the planning, integration and enforcement of public transport operations in the province such as the bus rapid transit, Metrorail, Gautrain and taxi services.

Set to transform the current fragmentation of public transport governance and coordinate the management of public transport services, the Gauteng Transport Authority will be responsible for:

• integrated transport planning across local and provincial boundaries
• contracting and management of subsidised transport services
• enforcement and regulation of public transport operations.

Bettering the lives of Gauteng residents

“An improved transport system will have a major impact on the lives of Gauteng residents since it is one of the primary means of access to employment, services and social activities,” said the MEC. He added that a better public transport system will lead to less reliance on private vehicle usage by the public.

The Gauteng Transport Authority will utilise the results of the Gauteng Household Travel Survey, which are expected in October this year, to plan, build and expand the public transport system and better co-ordinate public transport operations provincially.

“The survey seeks to gather comprehensive data on travel behaviour of commuters and the results will assist us in improving our transport planning and solving transport challenges,” said Vadi.