Nie Cele
Its official! the eagerly anticipated Bus Rapid Transit Rea Vaya Phase 1C could soon be in operation before the end of June this year.
This new route is expected to connect Phase 1A and 1B from the Johannesburg CBD to Alexandra, Greenstone and Sandton.
This was revealed by the City’s Transport MMC, Funzi Ngobeni after the signing of three agreements during an auspicious event held at Indaba Hotel in Fourways.
The accord ceremony was signed by City and its partners, the Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand, Sandton Taxi Association (ARMSTRA) as well as the Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA).
The signed agreements included Compensation for economic loss , Bus Operating Company formation and participation Agreements.
The consensus allows the City to remove 940 minibus taxis from the phase 1C route depending on the age and condition and some of these vehicles are expected to be scrapped while a few newer will be out rightly put on sale.
Furthermore it was revealed the two associations will be compensated with an undisclosed commensurate amount for pulling out their minibus taxis.
Ngobeni congratulated all the stakeholders and told the audience the City was ready to tackle all challenges arising from the partnership.
The MMC also strongly pointed out, interest of commuters comes first irrespective of different political parties running the City.
“People must know there is mobility and viable transport in the city.
Pressed about the ping- pong offline tag loading systems?
He said, the City was in the process of finalising procurement Automatic Fare Collection System that will minimise those technical glitches.
Ngobeni blamed load shedding and vandalism of electricity cables located next to the Rea Vaya stations for the nagging offline technical glitches.
“The City is transforming the taxi industry through Section 41 of the National Land Transport Act of 2009 which promotes economic empowerment while restructuring transport operators to discourage monopolies and therefore seeing the realisation of the owners of the affected minibus taxis becoming shareholders and manage Rea Vaya buses through a registered company,” said Ngobeni.
Both associations welcomed the move arguing its poetic justice. They also pointed out they waited for years to finally sign on the dotted line.
“This is a great milestone for the association,” said Leornard Molepo of (ARMSTRA)
“Since 2013 when these negotiations kicked off a lot of people who were part of this milestone have never lived to see this outcome. They died over the years.
Gabriel Mataboge of (ATA) also weiged in and said removing mini-bus taxis from the road would also assist in easing the ever gridlocked traffic on our roads
“This is something very good for the taxi association because we are part of the Rea Vaya operating company,” said Alexandra Taxi Association Secretary Gabriel Mataboge.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Negotiations for phase 1C started in 2013.
- The soon to be formed bus operating company will come into effect once the Bus Operating Company agreement has been entered into between the City and the affected Taxi industry following a public participation that is currently underway.
- This phase is expected to open employment opportunities for 169 drivers who will be allocated more than 140 buses.
- Marcopolo has been awarded the contract to supply Bus Body Units for Rea Vaya
