14 February 2008

THE City of Cape Town has established the first ward-based transport users forum on the Cape Flats, which is probably the first in South Africa.

The constitution of the Bonteheuwel Transport Users Forum was signed on 12 February 2008 by the ward councillor Theresa Thompson, at a celebration where the community witnessed this historic occasion.

The forum aims to provide an improved public transport service to commuters in the area by encouraging them to participate in the transport discussions shaping the development of passenger transport in the area. There are 105 wards in the Cape metropole.

An estimated 33 000 commuters in Bonteheuwel make daily use of buses, taxis and trains.

The new forum consists of the ward councillor and the proportional council representative for Bonteheuwel, commuters who live in the area, a representative of rail, bus and taxi services, as well as one individual per business enterprise from the Bonteheuwel business community.

Thompson, the newly inaugurated chairperson said the forum will identify passenger transport problems in the area, contribute toward the formulation of transport policies, develop projects for the area, as well as monitor the results.

"We have decided to launch the concept in Bonteheuwel because the community indicated their willingness to lead in this regard. We have signed the constitution to enter uncharted territory. As far as we could determine this is the first forum of its kind in South Africa.

"Through this forum every Bonteheuwel commuter will be able to participate in transport issues such as planning, safety and security," she said.

According to Elizabeth Thompson, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, the City of Cape Town's Transport Department is rather unique.

"We provide a number of services which is not available anywhere else in the country. These include the Dial-a-Ride service for passengers with special needs, the transport information call centre which provides a one-stop-shop for bus, rail and taxi information, as well as the enforced bus and minibus taxi lanes on the N2 freeway with number plate recognition technology.

"The establishment of the ward transport forum is in response to commuters' concerns to be consulted in transport planning.

"This new forum is the start of the City's interactive process in consulting commuters in planning transport initiatives. Eventually each ward-based transport users forum will enjoy representation in the single Cape Town Transport Users Forum," said Thompson.

Source: CapeTown.gov.za