The Greater Protea Glen Transport Master Plan, commissioned by the City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department and implemented through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), has been selected as a finalist in the 2026 South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) National Awards – Project Awards.

The recognition places the master plan among projects being acknowledged for their contribution to South Africa’s built environment. The awards will take place on 3 September 2026 in Sandton.

Through the plan, Transport Department is positioning transport as a community-enabling service: connecting residents to jobs, schools, healthcare, public amenities and economic opportunities, while planning safer and more efficient ways for people to move within Greater Protea Glen and across Johannesburg.

Executive Director of Transport Lutando Maboza said the recognition demonstrates the importance of planning transport systems around communities before development pressures overwhelm existing infrastructure. “Greater Protea Glen is continuing to grow, and that growth requires us to think beyond the transport challenges residents experience today.”

“The master plan improves mobility, strengthens connectivity and supports the daily needs of communities,” said Maboza.

The plan proposes an integrated network in which roads, rail, Rea Vaya, Metrobus, minibus taxis, walking and cycling routes work together more effectively to reduce barriers between communities and the places residents need to reach every day.

JDA CEO Themba Mathibe said the recognition speaks to the importance of planning infrastructure around the realities and future needs of communities.

“Infrastructure begins long before construction starts. It begins with understanding how people live, where they need to go and how a community is expected to grow.”

Development of the master plan has been supported by extensive technical work, including traffic counts at 45 intersections, pedestrian and cyclist counts, road condition surveys, public transport observations, transport modelling, site assessments and stakeholder engagement.

The project was undertaken with OAR Consultants, whose Managing Director, Avi Menon, welcomed the SAICE recognition.

“I’m incredibly proud of the wonderful team behind it and the quality of work we are building at OAR. Thanks to our clients City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Development Agency for trusting us with this.”