The Johannesburg Development Agency’s (JDA) implementation of the Rea Vaya Phase 1C along Louis Botha Avenue to Sandton is progressing well, with much of the work already being completed.
The trunk route will comprise 13 low-flow stations, five interchanges, improved Alex and Selby depots to anchor Rea Vay Phase 1C trunk route
bridges, cycle routes, and pedestrian walkways. The introduction of Rea Vaya Phase 1C will bring safe, affordable, and reliable public transport to Joburg CBD, Hillbrow, Bellevue, Yeoville, Orange Grove, Cheltondale, Highlands North, Balfour Park, Griswold, Bramley, Wynberg, Alexandra, Marlboro, Athol, Sandton, Sandown, Longmeadow, and Greenstone.
The route will have 141 low-entry buses and an interchange by Pan Africa connecting Rea Vaya with other modes of public transport near Alexandra Township.
Two depots will enable the Rea Vaya BRT System Phase 1C trunk route, playing pivotal roles in its operation in Alexandra, where buses will be parked and maintained, and another in Selby, used by the Alexandra Bus Operating Company (ABC).
Serving as key hubs along the route, these depots will serve as vital nerve centres for the maintenance, storage, and dispatch of buses, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the BRT system.
As the backbone of the Phase 1C trunk route, the depots will facilitate the seamless flow of buses and serve as dynamic hubs for commuters, providing essential services and connections to various parts of the city.
The Alexandra depot houses 30 buses and will serve as a transportation hub for the community and enhance the public transport infrastructure in the Louis Botha Corridor.
The depot, now complete, will be an additional component for Phase 1C operations from Sandton to Alexandra, along Rivonia Road and Katherine Drive, and the trunk route from Parktown to Alexandra, along Louis Botha Avenue.
The scope of work for the construction of the Alexandra Depot included, but not limited to, earthworks, retaining wall, sub-soil drainage, stormwater drainage and attenuation pond, paving, security fencing, provision of water/electricity services, landscaping and road lane markings.
In quarter four of 2023, the JDA completed the access road to the depot and extended the stormwater infrastructure to tie in with the existing system and drainage inlet structures.
The Alexandra Depot includes a bus parking platform, diesel and ad-blue refuelling storage tanks and dispensers, admin staff prefabricated office structures, ablutions, a refuelling canopy, and an oil separator pit.
SELBY BRT DEPOT BEING FINALISED
The new Selby BRT Depot will enhance the efficiency and reliability of the BRT system. The depot will service two Rea Vaya BRT operating companies for major and minor maintenance by maintaining in-service and out-of-service buses.
The central location in the inner city will minimize dead mileage and the time lost by buses in traffic congestion between depots and route starting points. The Selby BRT depot will be able to accommodate up to 270 buses.
The administration building of the Selby BRT Depot will function as the working space of the facility and is currently under refurbishment and renovated to feature modern amenities. The scope of works will see the refurbishment of workshops and the construction of a new canteen and gymnasium.
The modern administration building will also feature of new offices, administration rooms, boardrooms, and storerooms, a new main foyer and reception areas and the refurbishment of courtyard spaces. It will provide a central hub for managing the operations.
The modern administration building will also feature new offices, administration rooms, boardrooms, and storerooms; a new main foyer, and reception area spaces to provide a central hub for managing the operations.
The construction of additional toilet blocks, new lifts to aid accessibility, service ducts, pedestrian and vehicular access with security offices, and external works will also form part of the scope of work.
The completed works on the Selby Depot include the construction of the bus depot workshops, a new double-volume wash bay building, two new refuse buildings, refuelling garages, and the construction of the administration building to house the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) control centre, and a new gatehouse.
The new Selby BRT Depot will allow Rea Vaya operators to maintain their fleet with installed specialized equipment, including brake testing facilities, spray booths, automatic and manual bus washing facilities, and a refuelling facility with AdBlue dispensers.
“The JDA is excited about the progress of the Rea Vaya Phase 1C projects, particularly the completion of the Alexandra Depot and the finalisation of the Selby BRT Depot. These depots are not just buildings; they are the beating heart of the BRT system, ensuring the smooth operation and maintenance of the fleet,” says Siyabonga Genu, Executive Manager for Project Implementation at JDA.
“With their strategic locations and state-of-the-art facilities, they will play a crucial role in providing safe, reliable, and efficient public transportation to the people of Johannesburg.”
The Rea Vaya Phase 1C trunk route Phase 1C is the third BRT trunk route to be implemented since 2009. Rea Vaya’s Phase 1A started running in 2009, with a trunk route operating between Ellis Park in Doornfontein and Thokoza Park in Soweto, linking with several feeder routes in Soweto.
The Phase 1B services were rolled out on 14 October 2013, with routes from Thokoza Park through Noordgesig Extension, Westbury, Auckland Park, Milpark, Parktown, and to Library Gardens in the Joburg CBD.
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