Nelson Mandela Bay football fans will be provided with safe and easily accessible, special public transport during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, in addition to the normal public transport currently available in the city.
These additional services, which will be provided for the duration of the event from 11 June to 11 July 2010, have been specifically designed to cater for spectators at the stadium and at the fan fest at St George's Park.
To ensure fans are provided with safe transport, all vehicles and drivers will be accredited and will have to comply with rigid safety standards and specifications. Fares will be charged on these services, however the price has not yet been finalised.
The overlay services will include special shuttle services between key destinations, including the airport, stadium, beachfront accommodation, intercity transport hub at Kings Beach, fan fest and park 'n ride locations. On match days, extra shuttles will be provided to serve spectators travelling to and from the stadium.
The vehicles that will be used include approximately 60 buses and 160 minibuses that will be sourced from the local public transport industry, which will be specially branded as 2010 services, for clear identification.
In addition, the municipality has purchased 24 articulated buses that will be managed and operated during the course of the event by the recently registered Laph'Umilanga Transport Services Secondary Cooperative Limited. The articulated buses will later be used as part of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality's long-term integrated public transport system (IPTS).
The IPTS, formerly known as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), will not be ready for operations during the world cup, although some buses may use the bus lanes that have recently been constructed. Basic services will be provided 24 hours on some routes, for example from the airport to beachfront accommodation, while fan fest services will operate from 09h00 to 01h00, depending on the demand.
On match days, stadium services will operate approximately six hours before kick-off to about four hours after games end. These services to the stadium will be provided from the airport, Kings Beach transport hub, beachfront accommodation, and the park 'n rides at the fan fest and Andrew Rabie School.
These services will operate to and from the shuttle pick up and drop off points in Harrower Road, between Kipling and Mount Roads. Clear signage will also be provided for pedestrians from the stadium to the public transport loading points.
People with special needs will be served by ten specially adapted vehicles, which will transport them directly to and from a designated stadium entrance. In addition, wheelchair ramps will be provided at each transport site.
Also, a disability helpdesk, which will operate from the Transport Operation Centre (TOC) will coordinate transport and all other needs of people with disabilities. It will have direct control and contact with the assigned vehicles. The TOC will also function as a call centre for all transport related queries.
With regards to road signage, temporary 2010 yellow and black signage that complies with national standards is currently being erected throughout the metro and on all routes leading to main 2010 venues, such as the stadium, fan fest, airport and Kings Beach hub. Further communication will be provided closer to the event to explain the meaning of the signage.
On match days, road closures will be implemented within a traffic warning zone surrounding the stadium, in order to limit traffic through the area. There will also be an inner traffic free zone around the stadium, including Milner Avenue and Fettes and Prince Alfred roads. Traffic control points will be in operation from five hours prior to kick-off to six hours after matches end.
Only residents and businesses (including employees, customers and service providers), religious institutions and special FIFA groups will be allowed access into the traffic warning zone. Vehicle access parking permits will be issued to all of the aforementioned categories and affected parties at permit issuing stations. Details on the application of permits are being communicated via public participation meetings.
Tour groups that do not have dedicated parking permits and vehicle access parking permits will not be permitted to enter the stadium precinct. It is therefore recommended that these groups use park 'n rides and relevant shuttles to the stadium.
With regards to parking, special park 'n ride facilities will be provided at Andrew Rabie School, Kings Beach and at St George's Park on match days, where ticket holders can park their vehicles and then be ferried by public transport vehicles to the stadium.
Security, ambulances, food and beverages and portable toilets will be provided at these venues.
The Andrew Rabie School park 'n ride, which will only operate on match days will open six hours before kick-off and four hours after matches end. Spectators will be transported to the stadium from three hours before each match.
The St George's Park park 'n ride will offer daily routes to Kings Beach, beachfront hotels, the airport, as well as to the stadium on match days.
Parking for disabled people will be provided alongside the Park Drive bowling club, from where shuttles will operate to and from the stadium.
Also, in order to enhance efficiency, approximately 400 volunteers will be utilised during the event to assist with traffic management, parking and information, etc.
With regards to the construction of infrastructure, numerous main routes have been upgraded and widened, sidewalks constructed and paving and landscaping completed throughout the city.
With just 37 days to go to kick-off, we are confident that the special transport and normal public transport that will be provided during the world cup will meet the requirements as stipulated by FIFA, and will be both sufficient and efficient in meeting the needs of our visitors and residents.
Source: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ectransport.gov.za/)
