Tshwane DA Transport policy

INTRODUCTION

An effective public transport system is essential to stimulate growth of a local economy. Without an accessible and affordable way to travel, poor residents will not have access to economic opportunities. The availability of quality public transport also stimulates investment as businesses can more easily access labour. A cost effective public transport system not only connects people and economic opportunities, it also saves on transport costs for the ordinary man in the street.

THE SITUATION IN TSHWANE

Without an efficient public transport system the Tshwane Metropole can never become a competitive city. Proper public transport also promotes sustainability and efficiency within a municipality. Public transport within the Tshwane Metropole is in disarray for the following reasons.

Tshwane Bus Service

The Tshwane Municipal Bus Service is meant to extend access to transport to all residents. But the service is only serving the inner city, leaving township commuters largely outside the urban transport network.

Currently a large percentage of busses are in workshops, awaiting servicing, repairs or licenses.

Due to recent changes in the tariff structure, over some distances municipal busses are now more expensive than taxis.

Wildcat strikes, damage to property caused by these striking workers and a general lack of discipline bear testimony to the chaotic condition of the Tshwane Bus Service.

The unreliability of the Service undermines attempts to drive economic growth in the city, and serve as another example of how poor service delivery destroys people’s opportunities to escape poverty.

BRT

The National Treasury has withdrawn over R700 million earmarked for funding BRT implementation in the Tshwane Metro. Unsatisfactory planning and design for the initial BRT line were cited as reasons. This was a golden opportunity lost.

Wonderboom Airport

Due to tender irregularities the municipally owned and operated Wonderboom Airport ran out of fuel for the second time this year

Attempts to obtain an international operating license for the airport have dragged on for years.

The first attempt to allow scheduled flights from the airport failed due to a failed tender process.

Transport Integration

There is a lack of public transport mode integration and a resultant lack of co-ordinated scheduling and fee structure.

Commuters must purchase separate tickets for almost every mode of public transport in the city, even for the different bus services.

THE DA’S PLAN FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE TSHWANE METROPOLE

If the DA wins the Tshwane Metro on 18 May it will make the following its priorities for public transport in the city.

Introduction

Local Government has an important role to play in planning cities to make them public transport friendly, ensuring commuter safety, and administering subsidies to ensure that public transport is affordable to the majority of people.

More people using public transport will reduce infrastructure costs, save fuel, ease urban congestion and reduce pollution. Therefore DA policy will focus strongly on this.

All transport modes should complement as opposed to compete with each other so that a seamless system, with integrated ticketing, evolves.

The public transport system must be appropriate, accessible, comfortable, safe, well maintained, accessible to everyone, including the disabled, and efficient enough to draw people away from private cars, but at the same time affordable enough to the commuter to be sustainable. Finally, it must be sustainable.

The DA will involve private operators in providing these services, within a framework that ensures that the system operates efficiently and that all its elements complement each other.

Objective

To manage, regulate and encourage safe, efficient and cost effective public transport systems in the Tshwane Metro so that all citizens have access to quality public transport opportunities.

To have a public transport framework that provides universal opportunities to all citizens to access safe, efficient and cost effective transport to give them access to economic opportunities and essential services.

To have a public transport framework that provides universal opportunities to the safe, efficient and cost effective transport of goods to supply the local, SA and world economies

Policy Actions

The DA will implement the following within the Tshwane Metro to ensure a safe, quality, efficient, clean, affordable, sustainable and uninterrupted public transport system for the city and its citizens.

Full integration among all modes of public transport in the city, this will include:

Coordinated transport schedules between all bus services and train services and where possible taxi operators;

A single ticketing system to promote seamless travel between all modes of public transport; and

Service level agreements with private and public transport operators.

Establishment of a transport authority for the Tshwane metropole to coordinate the integration of public transport in the city as well as the administering of public transport subsidies.

The extension of the municipal bus service to all areas of the city to ensure universal access to public transport. Where this is not possible the DA lead council will enter into agreements with private sector companies to provide the service at municipal rates.

Reintroduction of the BRT in the city through a public-private partnership.

Creating a public-private partnership or fully outsourcing the operational management of the Wonderboom airport to improve air travel to and from the city.

The encouragement of private operators to enter the public transport market.

The introduction of a special metro police unit to promote safety within public transport in the city. This unit will also cooperate with the Railway police and private security operators where relevant.

Ensure that city planning practices in the city prioritises safe, quality, efficient, clean, affordable, sustainable and uninterrupted public transport for all new developments and re-developments.

Coordinate infrastructure investment between the council, provincial and national government and public and private transport operators.

Continuous certification of public transport operators will ensure that they continue to provide safe, quality, efficient, clean, affordable, sustainable and uninterrupted public transport to citizens of our city.