By Thapelo Sakoana

The Gauteng public transport, roads and works department is planning to increase expenditure on public transport by R25 billion over the next four years.

This follows a strategic planning workshop which ended in Tshwane on 9 May, convened to discuss plans for increasing investment in transport infrastructure in the province in the next few years.

The two-day event was attended by representatives from municipalities, the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa), Spoornet, the South African National Roads Agency (Sanra) and the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (Sarcc).

The delegates also looked at the implications of 2010 Soccer World Cup on the transport sector.

The delegates resolved to increase local investment in public transport to allow municipalities to improve bus and taxi services.

The provincial government will also unveil a new subsidy system for buses, taxis and rail transport in September.

In addition, the government will launch the Integrated Transport Plan in August and the Consolidated Infrastructure Plan by the end of 2006.

A statement released said the workshop also highlighted a need to establish a single transport authority in the province by 2007 and to finalise the Gauteng Road Network by June.

“The provincial government will roll-out extensive infrastructure projects including roads, rail, airways, public transport and freight in the next five years, thus ensuring better coordination among all these sectors,” said the statement.

MEC Ignatius Jacobs said his department would work with the people of the province “to ensure a safe, reliable, accessible and affordable transport system”.

“There is a whole new vibe spreading across our province and it gives us courage that we will meet our job creation and poverty reduction targets in the second decade of our democracy,” he said.

He added that the relationship between government and the people symbolised that all were optimistic about the future of the country and not only about the hosting of the 2010 Soccer Word Cup.

Source: BuaNews