Annexure A.1 : Items 9 and 10 – Bus Rapid Transit Operation Plan and Atterbury Road Bridge
Mr Speaker
As Council knows, the proposed BRT system holds a number of advantages over traditional bus networks and the project has received consistent support from this side of the Chamber. Nevertheless, as the report says, it is a “very complex, time-consuming and expensive project”.
So much so, mr Speaker, that we once more have to urge speed on the municipal departments responsible ; there is general skepticism about even Line 1 being operational in 22 months’ time, when the SWC begins. These doubts have been reinforced by statements from the taxi operators here and elsewhere in the country, that they have not reached agreement with BRT operators on routes and other issues. The same caution applies to the Gautrain feeder systems, where the operators cannot as yet tell us what the arrangements are.
The other element of concern in the report is the reference to “integration of the Tshwane Bus Services“ with the BRT network. Sir, I am not certain what is being referred to here, as the inner-city bus service known to me is the Pretoria City Transport, which is in such disarray that a motion has been submitted to this meeting for later discussion. It does not help much to postulate a role for a transport operator which, at best, will have to be radically overhauled.
The widening of the Atterbury Road bridge to accommodate the BTR lane is a welcome piece of far-sighted planning ; the only question is – when will it actually be used?
Councillor Justus de Goede
Democratic Alliance
Tshwane Metro Municipal Council
Cell : 083 733 2557
Mr Speaker
As Council knows, the proposed BRT system holds a number of advantages over traditional bus networks and the project has received consistent support from this side of the Chamber. Nevertheless, as the report says, it is a “very complex, time-consuming and expensive project”.
So much so, mr Speaker, that we once more have to urge speed on the municipal departments responsible ; there is general skepticism about even Line 1 being operational in 22 months’ time, when the SWC begins. These doubts have been reinforced by statements from the taxi operators here and elsewhere in the country, that they have not reached agreement with BRT operators on routes and other issues. The same caution applies to the Gautrain feeder systems, where the operators cannot as yet tell us what the arrangements are.
The other element of concern in the report is the reference to “integration of the Tshwane Bus Services“ with the BRT network. Sir, I am not certain what is being referred to here, as the inner-city bus service known to me is the Pretoria City Transport, which is in such disarray that a motion has been submitted to this meeting for later discussion. It does not help much to postulate a role for a transport operator which, at best, will have to be radically overhauled.
The widening of the Atterbury Road bridge to accommodate the BTR lane is a welcome piece of far-sighted planning ; the only question is – when will it actually be used?
Councillor Justus de Goede
Democratic Alliance
Tshwane Metro Municipal Council
Cell : 083 733 2557
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