It is with great sadness that we announce that our friend and colleague Colleen McCaul has passed away. Colleen was critical to getting the Rea Vaya BRT system opened in Johannesburg, beginning in 2006 and becoming project leader from 2008 – 2011 of a team of some 30 BRT and transportation specialists organized by GIZ. She was a member of the city team that successfully negotiated the first bus operating contract for the Rea Vaya BRT with affected minibus-taxi operators. It was a great achievement to get this project up and running, and she was a major reason for its success.

Colleen was a constructive and considerate member of the BRT Standard’s technical committee. She had high technical integrity and a sharp mind.  She consulted in the field of transportation planning, management and research in South Africa for over 20 years, particularly focused on BRT and informal transport. She was a specialist adviser to the ministerial National Taxi Task Team and was involved in framing the regulatory aspects of the new SA National Land Transport Bill. She authored the book, No Easy Ride, about the minibus-taxi industry.

Many of us had the great opportunity to work with Colleen and have her take us for lunch and dinner, where we would have interesting discussions in South Africa and abroad. She was open and inclusive, with surprising insight and humor.

Colleen was also a technical force in the sustainable transport field who could go toe-to-toe with the men of transport. There are too few women in the field, and we lost a mighty mind and generous, gentle spirit with her passing. We will miss her dearly.