2010 Sustainable Transport Award Nominations

Headline

In 2009 Johannesburg became the first city in Africa to implement a true BRT system and has been making significant progress towards the development of a world-class NMT network.

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Reasons for Nomination

The most noteworthy project implemented in Johannesburg in 2009 was Rea Vaya, Africa’s first true BRT system. But just as significant to the city’s lower income population, which has historically been marginalized by planning focused solely on the needs of drivers, has been a significant shift in general transport policy to favor equally the transport needs of all citizens. As 63% of Johannesburg’s households do not own private automobiles, the city’s increased focus on non-motorized transport (NMT) is a major victory in itself. Bicycles and pedestrians have begun to enter the city’s collective consciousness and plans are underway for an unprecedented NMT network in Soweto, a lower-income neighborhood famous for its apartheid history. The City has leveraged the opportunity of Rea Vaya to begin integrating bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure into the fabric of its new transit system.

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Impact and significance

The Rea Vaya starter service, which opened on August 30, 2009, consists of 25.5 km of exclusive, barrier-separated bidirectional bus lanes, including 25 stations. The stations are among the most attractive, well-designed BRT stations in the world and include all key elements of world-class BRT stations – pre-paid boarding, raised platforms for level boarding, multiple stopping bays, and passing lanes to incorporate express service. Additionally, each station has been given a unique, neighborhoody flavor by showcasing the work of local artists. The stations have also been designed to maximise the flow of natural light and air circulation, thereby limiting the need for energy-intensive air conditioners and lighting. One week after opening, ridership had already reached 16,000 trips per day and peak period demand currently outpaces bus capacity.

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Transferability

Johannesburg is now the African leader in modern public transport. Other African cities, attempting to address their mobility needs, no longer need to travel across the Atlantic to observe a high-quality BRT system. Moreover, the simple fact that it has now been done in Africa is a major triumph for BRT on the continent. African cities can no longer claim that the issues faced in the planning of other BRT systems do not apply locally. In fact, many of the issues faced in Johannesburg are similar, if not more serious, than what might be expected throughout the rest of Africa. Additionally, the shifts in NMT planning in Johannesburg will serve as a model for other African cities, where the transport needs of the majorities of their populations continue to go unaddressed. Once implemented, the greenway in Soweto will demonstrate that a city’s lower-income population is just as deserving of safe public space for leisure and travel as those who drive in private automobiles.

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Background

With a large portion of its population living below the poverty line and dependent on dangerous, erratic minibus taxis for transport, the Rea Vaya BRT system has taken a large step towards transforming travel for thousands of Johannesburg residents. But the City has been fighting a major battle by attempting to compete with, and potentially eliminate, a large segment of the minibus taxi sector. The minibus taxi industry has a history of violence and has operated somewhat outside of the law. The implementation of the Rea Vaya system generated a fierce outcry from the industry with the threat of strikes and violence against passengers. But the City remained resolute in its conviction not to be ruled by lawless thugs and rather than destroying the livelihoods of those employed within the minibus taxi industry, the City has been working to formalize them to operate the new system. While a final resolution is still pending, significant progress has been made and more and more taxi operators are coming to the negotiating table. Incorporated into the implementation of Rea Vaya, are the significant improvements made to the public realm surrounding station precincts. Commuters now benefit from brick pavers and pedestrian-scale lighting in place of the dusty or non-existent sidewalks to which they had grown accustomed. Equality and dignity is finally being returned to all citizens with the reallocation of street space, which has traditionally been dominated by the few who own private vehicles.

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Supplementary web links

http://www.reavaya.org.za/ http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/1226/78/1/4/ http://www.jda.co.za/

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