October 6, 2003

By Tshepiso Mogotsi

THE recently adopted city of Johannesburg's Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) was officially launched and handed over to Khabisi Mosunkuthu, Gauteng MEC for public transport, roads and works on Friday.

Mosunkutu came out in support of the multi-pronged plan, which was adopted by the city council in August, to overhaul the city's public transport system, improve transport infrastructure and reduce the number of vehicles on main roads during peak hours.

The plan is to guide the city in all the developments that will be executed in the transport sector between the year 2003 and 2008.

Mosunkutu, who has been behind moves to formalise and regulate the taxi industry, expressed satisfaction that the plan provides for an Operating Licensing Strategy (OLS), which will regulate the issuing of permits to taxi operators. "I am glad that you've included an Operating Licensing Strategy (OLS) in your ITP. The OLS was of course included in the priority focus areas identified by my department in 2001," exclaimed Mosunkutu.

The city of Johannesburg is the first municipality in the Gauteng Province to initiate the ITP.

Mosunkutu said the next challenging step for Johannesburg is the implementation of the Strategic Public Transport Network, a 325-km stretch of corridors based on grids servicing 45 nodes. The network will be serviced by buses and taxis, with 18-seater recapitalised taxis providing feeder services. Mosunkutu estimated that the network will cost between R5-million and R10-million.

Amos Masondo, executive mayor of the city, explained that the network will start with a proposed "Flagship Project" of two public transport priority corridors stretching east-west from Alexandra to Roodepoort and north-south from Sunninghill to Soweto.

"This plan will enable the city to better focus on the public transport investment, services, passenger information, enforcement and link buses and taxis with rail commuter stations as well as the five proposed Gautrain stations in the city," the mayor said.

-- Jonews

South African Cities Network: www.sacities.net