2010-03-15: Rea Vaya roll-out continues on 15th March 2010 as planned
“The City of Johannesburg today, confirmed that the addition of new services to complete the full Phase 1A of the Rea Vaya project will continue as planned on the 15th March 2010,” says Ms Rehana Moosajee, the MMC for Transport in the City of Johannesburg.
The services to be rolled-out tomorrow include a new complementary service running directly from Dobsonville to the Johanneburg CBD and Ellis Park Station and feeder services transporting passengers from Naledi to Thokoza Park Station, from Jabavu to Lake View Station and from Mofolo to Boomtown Station.
The final services scheduled for introduction on 3 May 2010 will include an additional complementary service directly from Dobsonville to Maponya Mall and feeder services from Protea Glen to Thokoza Park Station and from Eldorado Park to Thokoza Park Station. A CBD distribution service will be reintroduced to link the trunk services with Braamfontein, Wits University and Hillbrow. From 3 May all service times will be extended and the last buses will depart at 22:40. Sunday services will also be introduced on all routes. The feeder and complementary buses will stop at over 170 bus stops along the routes.
This is in addition to the trunk route (T1) service that began on 30th August commencing at Thokoza Park in Soweto, running 25.5 kilometres to Ellis Park, north-east of the CBD and utilising 23 stations en route.
Tickets will be available from Rea Vaya stations and from approved vendors situated near bus stops which will be marked with visible signage.
In his State of the City address on Thursday, 11 March 2010, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo recommitted the City to the Rea Vaya which he called “Joburg’s beacon of hope on the work we are doing on transport".
He continued: “the City is going ahead with its plan to introduce the full phase 1A of the Rea Vaya BRT service, including feeder and complementary routes in Soweto and the inner city, with a target patronage of 69 000 trips per day. We are confident that we will successfully provide a world-class public transport service for the spectators for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ ."
The Executive Mayor urged the taxi industry to make compromises and engage the City in negotiations to find better solutions for all to benefit from the BRT. "Our doors remain open and we welcome input from all stakeholders, ranging from taxi associations, commuter organizations and communities."
Clr Moosajee says the shooting of a bus carrying Rea Vaya drivers on Friday evening will not intimidate the team behind the BRT project or commuters. “The City of Johannesburg is aware that certain taxi operators are planning to continue with a stay away tomorrow (Mon). We have liaised with all law enforcement agencies and they are on high alert.”
Metrorail and other public transport operators will also be putting on additional services.
The Executive Mayor has also emphasized that the City has full confidence in the law agencies of the country in handling any threats of violence. “Our agencies will take a firm stance against any unlawful conduct by some operators who engaged in activities which seek to intimidate commuters.”
To find out more about more about the this Rea Vaya BRT press release, please contact:
Lisa Seftel , lisas@joburg.org.za
Tel 011 870 4511 for the City of Johannesburg’s Transportation Department
Nthatisi Modingoane, nthatisem@joburg.org.za
011 407 7354 for the City’s Media Liaison Department