Briefing on Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) Phase 1 projects in 4 Metro cities

Briefing on Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) Phase 1 projects in 4 Metro cities

Portfolio Committee on Transport

05 August 2009

Outline of Presentation

1. Introduction and Background2. Current Reality3. Integrated Public Transport 4. Bus Rapid Transit Systems5. Long term Vision6. Industry Transition Approach7. Way Forward

Introduction

Purpose of meeting – mandated by the Portfolio Committee to provide progress update on meeting between Government and Taxi industry in relation to BRT and Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP)

Background

President Zuma in his State of the Nation Address and the

Minister of Transport in the Budget vote both announced the

holding of the meeting between Government and the Taxi

industry on the 11th of June 2009. The meeting would kick-start a series of engagements with the

stakeholders affected by the BRT system particularly the Taxi

Industry and how they would benefit from the initiative. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport at the

Budget Vote for transport also highlighted the need to engage

other stakeholders such as Civil society. Government was

accountable to both Business and Civil Society.

Background …. cont The 11 June meeting between Government and Taxi Industry

Meeting was attended by: Government – National, provincial and local Taxi industry – about 1200 delegates from National, Provincial,

Regional and Local levels Government proposed a National Joint Working Group The National Joint Working Group held its first meeting on the 30

July 2009. The meeting set up a process which will be finalised

through a Memorandum of Agreement In response to the identified need to consult and engage with Civil

Society, Government has consulted with Organised labour at a

national level and broader consultation at local level still to follow Consultation with the users/ passengers through national structures

such as SA National Civic Organisation (SANCO) still to follow

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Timelines suggested by Government*

By end July 2009

August 2009

End of August

2009

Nomination of Government representatives and nomination of Taxi Industry Representatives on the National Joint Working Group

• Work to begin in August 2009

• Engagement with the Civil Society

• First interim report to be presented to Minister in August 2009

Background…..cont

Government is committed to work with the taxi industry on a speedy and

ongoing basis to address other industry concerns such as the Taxi

Recapitalisation Programme (TRP), National Land Transport Act (NLTA),

Operating Licence (OLs) conversions, etc With regard to the Taxi Recapitilisation, on the 4th February, Cabinet Approved

the following: The Regulatory Framework for consultation with various stakeholders TRP Policy as a blue print programme TRP funding strategy noting that scrapping will continue in line with the

MTEF allocations and not a restrictive time frame. A CPI linked increase in

the scrapping allowance. Discussion currently being held with National

Treasury on Taxi industry subsidisation. Phase 1of the strategy for lifting of moratorium Turnaround Strategy for Operating Licensing Boards (OLBs)

Background….. cont The NLTA’s aim is to further the process of transformation and

restructuring the public transport system to enhance the initiatives outlines above. Concerns raised by the industry on issues such as lifespan of OLs are being addressed.

NLTA further outlines new institutional arrangements for the three spheres of Government and introduces the need for the establishment of the National Public Transport Regulator

The Department continues to face Implementation challenges due lack of human and financial resources

Government programmes and initiatives are not taking off with speed as a result of lack of capacity to implement programmes

The Department approved an expansion of the the organisational establishment from three branches to nine branches and was only allowed to increase it’s on a progressive basis over several years.

To date only about 50% of the funding has been allocated for addition posts, this remains critical to enable the Department to fulfill its mandate and maximise integration of Public Transport and other Transport Modes.

Building a win-win-win partnership for improved public transport

Citizens and users are looking to Government & the public transport industry to provide changes that improve their daily lives.

It is possible – despite current challenges - for government, public users and the industry to achieve a public transport transformation strategy that delivers a win-win-win situation for all parties

Building a win-win partnership for an improved public transport

Citizens are looking to Government & the public transport industry to provide changes that improve their daily lives.

It is possible – despite current challenges - for government and the industry to achieve a public transport transformation strategy that delivers a win-win situation for all parties – including and especially existing operators.

Far from IDEAL

In desperate need of significant improvements

Current public Transport is...PMG note: photo’s have been removed

Current Reality Operator-biased, low quality services and limited/no facilities for PT users, pedestrians and cyclists

PMG note: photo’s have been removed

Absence of Taxi, and NMT facilities in

Tshwane (top & below)

Top – Minister Radebe, MEC Jacobs and Mayor Mkhatshwa not too impressed with slow travel time on a subsidised bus. Below left/right – poor walking & cycle facilities in JHB & Cape Town.

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Current Reality Increasing congestion in metro cities due to “car-use

captivity” of affluent minority


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Public Transport & Walking - lifeline modes for 80% of SA

• 38 million citizens live in households with no access to a car, • 40 million citizens do not have a driver’s licence. • 14 million learners walk to school, 7 million workers and learners use public transport, versus 4.5m who use a car.• 13.7 million used public transport at least once a week and 7 million used a car.

Public transport and walking (combined) are used by over 70 to 90% of all households to access most services and facilities. PT itself accounts for:

• 64% of households take public transport to a shop, • 39% use it to get to a medical service,• 41% use it to get to a post office,• 56% use it to get to a welfare office,• 48% use it to get to a police station, and• 47% use it to get to a municipal office.

User perspectives from the 2003 National Household Travel Survey…1

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Current users are very unhappy with public transport service quality. National Household Travel Survey (2003) shows that:

• 67% of taxi users are dissatisfied with safety (including 78% of metropolitan taxi users). 64% are unhappy with facilities at ranks and 60% are unhappy with the roadworthiness of taxis

• 71% of train users are unhappy about the level of crowding, 63% are unhappy about security on trains and 60% are unhappy about the distance between home and the station

• 74% of bus users are unhappy with the facilities at stops (e.g. shelters). This rises to 82% of rural bus users. 54% are unhappy with the level of crowding on buses and 51% are unhappy with off-peak frequencies

User perspectives from the 2003 National Household Travel Survey…2


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Government is firm on the need for:

1. High quality services to

retain current users and

attract car users

2. Affordable mobility for all

3. Reducing traffic congestion

to enhance the quality of

life of citizens – less travel

and more family time

Public Transport Strategy and Action Plan

Cabinet approved PT Strategy and Action Plan in March 2007 The Strategy calls for Integrated Rapid Public Transport

Networks(IRPTNs) in up to 12 major cities and 6 rural districts by 2014

Strategy proposed a phased approach:

Phase 1: Accelerated Recovery & Catalytic Projects (2007–2010)

Phase 2: Promote & Deliver Basic Networks (2010–2014) Phase 3: Advance & Sustain Accessible Networks (2014–

2020) The concept of an integrated network was introduced along

with BRT systems as one component of the network

Metropolitan Cities

Cape Town

Ekhuruleni

eThekwini

Johannesburg

Nelson Mandela Bay

TshwaneOther Cities

Buffalo City

Mangaung

Mbombela

Msunduzi

Polokwane

Rustenburg

Integrated PT Rapid Networks in 12 citiesPMG note: photo’s have been removed

Rural Public Transport Packages in 6 rural districts


District Municipalities

Sekhukhune (Limpopo)

OR Tambo (Eastern Cape)

Umkhanyakude (Kwazulu-Natal)

Ehlanzeni (Mpumalanga)

Thabo Mofutsanyane (Free State)

Kgalagadi (Northern Cape)

Integrated Public Transport The challenge is to include Taxi industry

• IRPTNs include Rail priority corridors and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

networks

– BRT systems can be planned and built within a 24-month period.

Rail systems require well over five years in total development time

• BRT imitates rail systems by running buses on exclusive lanes. Buses

dock at secure enclosed stations. This implies regulated systems

under the control of municipal regulatory entities.

• Rail corridors and BRT serve as the trunk services in IRPTN’s

• Rail and bus trunk services are both served by common feeder

services in integrated systems

• Ideally, Trains, BRT trunks and Feeders have a common electronic

fare collection system

Integrated Public Transport – Illustration of various components

MENLYN

CBD

CENTURION

ROSSLYN

Hammanskraal

Tembisa

Garankuwa

Atteridgeville

Mamelodi

Mabopane

Hatfield

Gautrain

Rail corridor

BRT corridor

Feeder service

Train station

Bus station

Rail trunk network

Bus trunk network

IRPTN Network

Integrated Public TransportThe BRT components


Exclusive bus lane with passing lanes at stations like this

Rapid boarding & alighting, level entry, flip down ramp which caters for wheelchairs and multiple doors

Station entry through ticket activated turnstiles. Bus station clean, well lit and secure

Design featuresPMG note: photo’s have been removed

Ease of access to the system

Aesthetically-pleasing environment

Well-illuminated stations

Rapid boarding and alighting

Integration with bicycles

Integration with taxis

System professionalism and cleanliness


Clean buses and stations

Recycling facilities

Customer service

Lloyd Wright

Lloyd Wright

Clear signage Security personnel

Easy to use maps

Characteristics and Benefits of BRT

•Full access for people using wheelchairs, the sight, hearing and intellectually impaired, children, the elderly and tourists

•Well-trained and friendly drivers and staff

•Comfortable stations with shelter

•Comfortable seats in the vehicles

•Ramps to platforms

•Clear signage and route maps

•Loudspeaker information

•Electronic signage

USER FRIENDLY EXPERIENCEUSER FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE

FREQUENT, GUARANTEED FREQUENT, GUARANTEED SERVICESERVICE

• Operates between 16 to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

• 3 to 5 minutes during peak periods

• 15 to 30 minutes during off peak

• Pre paid electronic smart card tickets will allow a passenger to make free transfers between routes in the network

• Faster journey times with dedicated lanes to bypass traffic

• By 2020 all city residents will not have to walk more than 1km to a station

SAFE AND SECURE SERVICESSAFE AND SECURE SERVICES

• Security guards and CCTV cameras at the stations and in the vehicles

• High safety levels with all vehicles monitored by a control centre

Integrated Public Transport – the challenge to include Taxi

industry• In the short-term JHB, CT and TSHWANE are planning full

BRTs as part of their long-term IRPTN

• NM Bay is a partial BRT

• ALL BRTs (plus Rail Priority Corridors) – need to include existing operators and labour (especially minibus industry) as contracted operators

• The difficult parts are:

– Persuading taxi owners, drivers and other workers to participate, by convincing them of benefits to themselves and society as a whole

– Transforming taxi operators into legitimate business operating companies

• 85% of all residents within 1km of a Rapid PT Network by 2020

• Upgraded fleets, facilities, stops & stations

• Extended hours of operation (16 hrs to 24 hrs operations)

• Peak frequencies of 5-10min & off-peak frequencies of 10-30min

• Special needs and wheelchair access

• Safe and secure operations monitored by a Control Centre

• Electronic fare integration when making transfers

• Integrated feeders including walking/cycling and taxi networks

• Integration with metered taxi and long distance services

• A car competitive PT option can enable strict car use management

The Vision and long term strategy

Vision: From Informal PT to Rapid PT SA can leapfrog from Informal services to Rapid PT Networks that provide

a car competitive quality for ALL citizens!PMG note: photo’s have been removed

Informal taxi Recapitalised formal taxi Basic bus service

Better bus servicePriority Bus

ServiceFull Bus Rapid Transit Network

BUS RAPID TRANSITBUS RAPID TRANSIT

TAXI RECAPITALISATIONTAXI RECAPITALISATION

GAUTENG IMPROVEMENT SCHEMEGAUTENG IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

GAUTRAINGAUTRAIN

• User-friendly experience

• Frequent, guaranteed services

• Safe and secure services

•Formalisation and Regularisation of the Taxi Industry

• Upgrade of current old ageing taxi fleet - Prepare industry for modal integration

• Safer Vehicles

• Improved service delivery

• Provides a Travel Demand Management solution to congestion challenges experienced on the Gauteng freeways• Wider route choice• Joint initiative by DOT, SANRAL, Gautrans, and adjacent municipalities

• An alternate means of travel within Gauteng to alleviate traffic congestion

• Will be integrated with other services – Feeder and Distributor

• Safe and fast travel

The Network Planning and Implementation ProcessBRTs include business & infrastructure aspects. The Business Plan deals with inclusion of current operators & workers. It is the main risk for a successful pilot phase.

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Sequence of Actions

• Johannesburg – Rea Vaya

• Cape Town

• Nelson Mandela Bay

• Tshwane

• Other cities

Status of Planning and Implementation in cities

JohannesburgStatus – Targeting 1 September 09 to start Phase 1a

• Rea Vaya Phase 1a and 1b - 122km of full BRT lanes, 250km feeder routes and 150 stations between 2009 and 2013.

• By 1 September 2009 plan to start Phase 1a - Runs from Soweto via NASREC to CBD and Ellis Park. Will be 25 km of BRT lanes, 20 stations, initially 40 buses with 103 additional new buses to follow by early 2010.

• One new BRT operating company formed by the affected taxi associations. Phase 1a will remove 575 taxis and carry 70 000 passenger trips a day.

• Phase 1b by 2010/11 will add 67 km of lanes, 78 stations and will add 637 buses. Will carry another 334 000 passenger trips a day.

Johannesburg Status – Targeting 1 September 09 to start Phase 1a


JohannesburgRea Vaya Phase 1


Cape TownStatus – Implementing Phase 1a for May 2010.

• Original plan for Phase 1a for 2010/11 had 25 stations and 139 feeder stops linking the CBD, Greenpoint, Seapoint, Airport and West Coast from Milnerton to Atlantis. Will use 156 vehicles to transport 115 000 passenger trips a day.

• City of CT requires additional funding to complete the full Phase 1a and is currently discussing this with DoT and National Treasury

• R600m worth of construction tenders have been awarded with another R1bn to be spent in the next 12 months subject to funding negotiations.

• Cape Town’s biggest rollout will be in Phase 2 after 2010 which will cover the Cape Flats, including Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain.

Cape Town Integrated Rapid Transit System

FULL BRT CORRIDOR ROUTINGS

Cape TownStatus – Implementing Phase 1a for May 2010.

Rendering of BRT station and bus in Cape TownPMG note: photo’s have been removed

Nelson Mandela BayStatus – Partial BRT but aiming to contract a full city-wide

network by 2010

• Phases 1 & 2 – 45 km of trunk-feeder bus corridors including 16km of BRT• Original plan - all current taxi & bus operations will be a single network by

2010.• Network to comprise 5 contract packages aiming to transport over 400 000

passenger trips a day.

Rendering of BRT station in Govan Mbeki Avenue in NMBPMG note: photo’s have been removed

TshwaneStatus – Will be work in progress in 2010 with 2011 as a date for full

operation of Phase 1

• 68km full BRT linking Mabopane to Mamelodi via CBD and Menlyn. Also planning Enhanced Bus Corridors from Atteridgeville to Mamelodi via CBD.

• For 2010 were aiming for Line 1 from Mabopane to CBD - 37km of lanes, 17 stations and 58 vehicles. Will carry around 40 000 passenger trips a day.

• It appears that Tshwane will not meet the above deadlines

• 2010 service likely to be a limited system from the CBD to Loftus Versveld

Tshwane

Rendering of BRT station and busPMG note: photo’s have been removed

National consultation process

DoT Transport Indaba (Oct 2006) proposed P T Strategy including BRT. BRT referenced in 2007 “State of Nation” address & 2007 Budget

Speeches of Ministers of Transport and Finance. June 2008 SANTACO Sec Gen and DoT DDG agreed to workshop for

SANTACO’s MANCO on BRT. Oct 2008 – DoT’s Road-based Transport Summit recommended workshop

with SANTACO & NTA on BRT. Nov 2008 – Workshop with SANTACO and NTA held. Dec 2008 – Summit with taxi industry on BRT Dec 2008 – Minister met SANTACO and supplied Draft National

Framework on “Inclusion of Taxi Operators and Labour into BRT systems

and other IRPTNs” Negotiations continued Jan to April 2009 culminating in pre-election

meeting with ANC President who promised further consultation.

Consultation Process at national so far - cont …

Jan – Mar 2009 provincial consultative road shows by SANTACO

amongst its members March 2009 - Industrial action/Strike by U.T.A.F 09 April 2009 – A consultative meeting between U.T.A.F. and

Government (DOT, CoJ and Gauteng Province) took place 20 April 2009 – A National Taxi Summit held, hosted by SANTACO.

Pres. Zuma and Min. Radebe attended Need for further consultation on BRT highlighted and to give new

admin a chance to settle in

Consultation process at city level - Johannesburg

Johannesburg approved BRT concept in Nov 2006 and set up a Taxi-

BRT Steering Committee in the City (Jan 2007) comprising reps from

18 ‘affected’ associations affiliated to both SANTACO and NTA. Since 2006 JHB held several workshops. A large group visited

Colombia in August 2007 with Mayor Masondo. JHB BRT Taxi Steering Com Met DG in Aug 08 & Minister in Jan 09.

Indicated they have mandates from associations to engage the City. Major workshop in March 09 to start finalisation of business negotiation

for Phase 1a operators. Operators not ‘directly’ affected by Phase 1a or 1b met Mayor in

February and planned protest to Luthuli House. Claimed in media that

they would seek interdict against the project.

Consultation process at city level – Cape Town

Cape Town approved BRT Phase 1a - August 08. Taxi engagements followed. SANTACO affiliates engaging

constructively - NTA affiliates opposed. Study tour to Colombia in Dec 08 with SANTACO affiliates. NTA

affiliates pulled out in favour of strikes in Dec 08 and Feb 09. Mayor met twice with NTA affiliates in 2009. Failed to discuss BRT

project after NTA insisted on dealing with operating licence issues. Taxi interests disrupted Nov 08 City meeting. All associations

reconvened in March 09. Proceeded after 30 NTA aligned association

reps were prevented from disrupting meeting. City making good progress with 7 of 8 affected Phase 1 associations. Good precedent for Taxi partnership through UCT’s Campus Shuttle. City waiting for NTA’s next move – door is open.

Consultation process at city level – Nelson Mandela

Have worked on Integrated Transport since 2004. Good relationship with local taxi industry leadership till Oct 2008.

Almost finalised negotiations when leadership replaced by new bosses

who called a strike in Dec/Jan 08-09. NMB taxi leaders liaised with Cape Town leaders on protest strategies. Minister & DG attended City Taxi Summit 30 Jan 09 to endorse

agreement brokered by a facilitator. Taxi industry boycotted – citing

insufficient preparation time. City and Taxi industry engaging & agreed to change name from BRT to

Integrated Passenger Transport System. Draft response from taxi

industry presented in March 2009. Current discussions on the way forward Key issues - DoT’s commitment to “no loss of legitimate profits”

Questions &

Discussion

Documents

Briefing on Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) Phase 1 projects in 4 Metro cities