In the near future, Gauteng public transport users will be able to use a single ticketing system for all modes of public transport across the province.
This is part of transport plans announced by Premier David Makhura during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Tuesday, 25 February 2020 at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria.
Makhura said this was in line with the commitment he made in the last SOPA on improving public transport. He said the provincial government has established the Gauteng Transport Authority.
The immediate focus of the Transport Authority is to give life to all the transport plans developed over the last decade. These include introducing a single-ticketing system between buses, taxis and trains and improving intermodal facilities.
“We remain committed to achieving an integrated, reliable, affordable, efficient smart mobility across the Gauteng-City-Region by 2030,” said the Premier.
He further noted that the public transport improvement plan for major transport nodes in the five development corridors has been developed and major intermodal facilities have been visited and assessed.
“Investment in public transport infrastructure – logistics hubs, road network, intermodal facilities, rolling stock, buses, taxis – is a key driver of our economic and spatial transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation programme,” said Premier Makhura.
With respect to the competition commission’s provisional report on land-based public passenger transport, Makhura said he has directed the MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo to engage with the competition commission.
He said there were many areas where the provisional findings amplified the Gauteng Provincial Government’s view on public transport. These included the need to devolve the commuter rail functions and the integration of the Metrorail and Gautrain.
In addition, he announced that the provincial government would rehabilitate, upgrade and construct 18 major arterial roads in the five development corridors, especially in Sedibeng and West Rand.
SOURCED FROM THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE.
