By Mzukona Mantshontsho
Monday 14 October, saw Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) Christine Walters launch the Rea Vaya Phase 1B in Milpark adjoining the Milpark Rea Vaya Station.
This launch forms part of Transport month in South Africa, under the theme; “Living in the Corridors of Freedom of a Caring City”.
Rea Vaya BRT is extending its services. There will be a new trunk service running on a dedicated lane from Thokoza Park in Soweto to Noorgesis and then along Commando Road, New Canada Road and Empire Road to Parktown and then to the Johannesburg Central Business District.
Complementary and feeder services which run in mixed traffic will join the trunk route at Rea Vaya stations. This means that you can now catch a Rea Vaya bus to and from the following destinations: Jabavu, Protea Glen, Greymont, Eldorado Park, Pimville, Mofolo, Meadowlands, Leaglen, Stormhill Windsor West, Florida, Melville, Yeoville, Parktown and many more places.
Wits University as well as all the campuses of the University of Johannesburg will be accessible using the Rea Vaya BRT as will the following hospitals: Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph and Charlotte Maxeke. As from yesterday (Monday 14 October), new services are being rolled out as follows:
Thokoza Park to Library Garden Stations (CBD) and Thokoza Park to Braamfontein.
Operating Times: Weekdays – 05h00 to 21h00 and Weekends – 05h00 to 18h00.
Frequencies: between 3 to 5 minutes in peak and 15 minutes in off peak during the week and 30 minutes in off peak over the weekend.
Tomorrow Tuesday 16 October 2013, there will be a lecture and network session on Green Transport. The focus will be on Bio Gas and what work and programmes the City is doing in relation to Green Transport.
The idea of the Corridors of Freedom came from the City’s record budget of over R40 billion for the 2013/14 financial year consisting of operational expenditure of R36.3 billion and new capital spending of R7.5 billion. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Geoffrey Makhubo, delivering the budget said: “Johannesburg is the first municipality in South Africa to present a multi-year capital budget of R30.1 billion. The self-funding part of this Budget will grow to above 65% from a current average of 39%”.
“We are able to achieve this despite the challenging global and regional economic environment,” he said. “In the current year our finances continued to strengthen, bolstered by sound financial strategies and forward thinking by the city,” he added.
The COJ’s achievement can be attributed to effective financial management and sound planning of our operations. “Within the City of Johannesburg there is a strong commitment to prudent financial management at all levels; ensuring tightened controls, strengthened policies and procedures and the attainment of a clean audit,” said Makhubo.
The budget followed on the Thursday 9 May State of the City Address by the Executive Mayor, Councillor Mpho Parks Tau. In this he made major announcements on the City’s intention to reshape its urban form, make a decisive break with apartheid spatial planning and construct a future based on equity, accessibility and sound economic principles.
At the core of this approach is the emphasis on Corridors of Freedom. These corridors will be developed to support inclusive, high-density, mixed-use developments to reduce commuting times and costs. During the course of the year, the COJ will be consulting with residents to finalise the nodes of the Corridors of Freedom with focus on the medium term being Soweto to the CBD (along Pert Empire); CBD to Alexandra; Alexandra to Sandton; Turfontein node and the mining belt. The most efficient urban form is compact, mixed land use with extensive public transport network that includes high intensity movement corridors and with attractive environments for walking and cycling.
The budget contained detailed programmes for spending by Johannesburg’s departments and Municipal Entities over the coming three years. More than 50% of the operating budget is allocated to sustainable services and strategic infrastructure.
There are a few different forms of transportation in South Africa. Some forms of transportation are road transport, railways, airports, water transport, and tramways. South Africa experiences a lot of deaths on the roads. As of 2013, about ten thousand people die on the roads each year. The national speed limit in residential areas is between 50 and 80 kilometers per hour and 120 kilometers per hour on the national roads and freeways.
For more information, call 0860 562 874.