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Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT)

The BRT Programme is the road-based component of the Public Transport Strategy [PDF] that was approved by Cabinet in March 2007. It is designed to move large numbers of people to all parts of a city quickly and safely.

The aim of the BRT system is to link different parts of a city into a network. Government wants to ensure that by 2020, most city residents are no more than 500 m away from a BRT station.

The system will feature dedicated bus-only lanes, as well as bus stations that are safe, comfortable, protected from the weather and friendly to passengers with special needs, such as children, the elderly, the sight and hearing impaired. It will run for 18 hours a day from 5:00 to 23:00. The plan is to eventually extend this to 24 hours a day.

It is part of a public-private partnership in which cities build and maintain the infrastructure, stations, depots, control centres and a fare collection system. Private operators own and manage the buses, hire staff and provide services on a long-term contract.

BRT systems combine the best features of rail with the flexibility and cost advantages of road-based transport, and have the added advantage of being easier and faster to build than a light rail transport system.

Existing bus and taxi operators will feed into the public transport system and enter into long-term contracts with the relevant municipality. Fares will be administrated using a smartcard system to ensure commuters can afford them. The contract service will be paid per kilometre.

Johannesburg launched the BRT system on 30 August. Read more about this in the September edition of Vuk'uzenzele. The cities of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane are in an advanced stage of rolling out phase 1 of the BRT projects.

Working with all stakeholders, government is committed to provide access to fast, regular, high-quality, safe and affordable public transport for all.

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Last modified: 17 November 2009 12:03:43.