City launches second phase of Rea Vaya
Milpark - The City of Johannesburg launches Phase 1b of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system.
The City of Johannesburg launched Phase 1b of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on 14 October at Frank Brown Park in Milpark.
The launch took place after extensive negotiations between the public transport operators and the City of Johannesburg officials.
Speaking at the event, executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg Parks Tau said the BRT system aims to integrate socio-economic groups.
“The approach is aimed at dismantling the apartheid segregation concept in which the black majority of our residents were confined in townships far away from the heart of economic opportunities,” Tau said.
This aim was part of the announced sweeping changes to Johannesburg’s urban landscape that were set to take place. The changes also include the developments of new transport arteries that Tau suggests will bring communities closer to work places, schools and leisure.
“Users of the service will be able to access some key public hospitals like Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph and Charlotte Maxeke as well as private hospitals such as the Brenthurst and Park Lane Clinic,” Tau added, in reference to the bus route the runs from Soweto, through Auckland Park, all the way to Doornfontein.
Tau described the Rea Vaya BRT system as more than a public transport project, as it also contributes significantly to job creation.
“The mayoral committee took a deliberate decision to delay the procurement of the buses to ensure that local content of buses could be maximised.”
Rea Vaya Phase 1b is one of the R100 billion infrastructure investment programme that will run over ten years.
