Rea Vaya to hit the road next month

SA’s first rapid bus transit system, originally scheduled to start on June 1, will kick into life on August 30, Johannesburg member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana Moosajee, said yesterday. The government has visibly thrown its weight behind the launch of the first 25km-stage of the eventual 300km bus network and opposition from within the taxi industry has been muted.

Moosajee said taxi owners were increasingly signing up to Rea Vaya and said the longer others stayed out, the less likely they were to be given any opportunities .

Even if negotiations with the bus and taxi operators who would eventually own and run Rea Vaya were not completed, the system would start at the end of next month. An interim company would start Rea Vaya and the formal bus operating company should be in existence by December, she said.

Rea Vaya would not begin its full range of services next month, but would be a smaller-scale operation that would grow completely by January. The trunk route would initially run only between Ellis Park and Booysens. Just 46 buses would be used, compared with the 143 on the route by January. Paper tickets would be used until fare smart cards are introduced.

While the taxi industry threat had receded for now, starting the subsequent Phase 1B, due in place before the Soccer World Cup next year, already faces hurdles. The Oxford Road leg, taking traffic north from the city, may only come into use after next year, as it faced a lengthy environmental impact assessment and opposition from residents, Moosajee said.

Rapid bus transit timeline

n 2006: City of Johannesburg starts planning a bus rapid transit system (BRT)

November 2007: Construction on phase 1A starts

November-December 2007: City and two regional associations, Top Six and GJRTC, sign a memorandum of understanding to explore the BRT idea

April 2009: Construction on phase 1A — running from Regina Mundi in Soweto to Ellis Park — on track to start in time for the Fifa Confederations Cup in June

April 20 2009: Due to taxirelated problems, President Jacob Zuma calls a temporary halt

May 28 2009: Faced with taxi opposition, Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele decides not to use BRT during the Confederations Cup

August 20 2009: Rea Vaya due to start operating

May 2010: Phase 1B due to begin operations

June 11 2010: Soccer World Cup begins

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