We are pleased to announce that at end of October 2012, the Department of Roads and Transport had received the Final Report on the 5 Year Gauteng Transport Implementation Plan (GTIP5). This concludes the process of public consultations on the Draft Report held with transport stakeholders since July 2012.
The consultative process was wide ranging and extensive. It involved dialogues with the taxi and bus industry; consultations with public entities such as Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Transnet, South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), engagements with municipal authorities; focused meetings with representatives from the freight and road industries, commuter organisations, environmental groups, intelligent transport systems bodies, disability organisations, business and labour structures.
These consultations proved to be extremely valuable and provided better insight into the transport needs of specific sectors. The Final GTIP5 Report provides a summary of the issues raised and indicates which matters have been incorporated in the Report and those that have been deferred for consideration in the 25-Year Integrated Transport Master Plan.
The GTIP5 is a short-term intervention plan to alleviate blockages and to improve the road network and public transport system in Gauteng. It will serve as the foundation for the 25-Year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP 25), which should be presented to the department by June 2013. The plan identifies key initiatives to be implemented over the next five years in order to address pressing transport issues.
The GTIP5 is founded on the following key policy principles:
- Transport in support of economic development.
- transport integration in pursuance of greater efficiencies and social integration.
- Environmental sustainability.
- Optimum utilisation of existing and new transport resources and infrastructure. and
- Maintenance, operation and further development of an efficient public transport network.
The following schedule of transport projects or initiatives to be implemented as part of the GTIP5 are based on an assessment of all approved transport plans; the state of transport in the province as well as the active participation and inputs of stakeholders.
Initiatives and Key Focus Areas
-
Transport Authority for Gauteng
- Provincial-wide Public Transport Information Centre
- “One Province One Ticket”
- Integration with the Commuter Rail Corridor Modernisation Project of PRASA
- Restructured Subsidised Road-based Public Transport
- Transformation of the Taxi Industry
- Greener Public Transport Vehicles Technologies
- Travel Demand Management, Less Congestions and Shorter Travel Times
- Access to Major Freight Nodes
- International and City Airports Pedestrian Paths and Cycle Ways
- Continued Provincial Wide Mobility
- Effective Management of Existing Transport Infrastructure
Based on the public consultations, two new areas of focus have been added in the Final GTIP5 Report. These are “Regulation and Enforcement” and “Accessible Transport”. With respect to law enforcement, the Report identifies, inter alia, speeding; alcohol and substance abuse; un-roadworthy vehicles; driver attitude and overloading as contributing factors to unlawful conduct on our roads.
The Report adds that the “lack of effective law enforcement can be attributed to the general allocation of manpower in traffic departments across the province; the lack of continuous and visible policing, as well as corruption”. It emphasises that “road traffic enforcement is at the heart of combating unlawfulness on the roads” and calls for “effective public transport regulations and inspections; improved over-load controls and enforcement; and development control” based on effective training of law enforcement officers.
Secondly, the Report suggests that the lack of physical access, both to and within built environments, is a major factor contributing to the exclusion of people with disabilities from mainstream society. Physical and architectural barriers impede the ability of people with special needs and impairments to access places easily, safely and equally.
The Report advocates that future public transport planning should integrate the needs of people with disabilities in the design and construction of new roads and transport infrastructure. Furthermore, we should aggressively pursue road safety programmes to reduce the level of road fatalities and injuries.
These initiatives fall within the Department’s core functions. The implementation of these measures over the next five years will enhance and promote the transformation and restructuring of urban society. It will assist the process of social integration and the more effective utilisation of public resources allocated for roads and transport. Hopefully, it will increase levels of mobility, convenience and safety for residents and reduce the cost of doing business in Gauteng.
Finally, the department would like to express its sincere appreciation to the ITMP25 Panel of Experts and the 2037 Consortium for the development and timeous presentation of the Final GTIP5 Report.
Enquiries:
Octavia Mamabolo
Tel: 011 355 7300
Cell: 082 316 8666
E-mail: Octavia.Mamabolo@gauteng.gov.za.
