City unveils Rea Vaya layover and turns sod at Selby depot
22 February 2017
The continued development of Phase 1B of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has taken two major leaps forward.
On Tuesday February 21, two Members of the Mayoral Committee of the City of Johannesburg – Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba (Transport) and Cllr Funzela Ngobeni (Development Planning) – turned the sod at the site of the new Rea Vaya Selby depot and formally handed over the Booysens layover to Litsamaiso, the Rea Vaya bus operating company owned by former taxi bosses.
The Booysens layover, which was completed in 2016, caters for the daytime requirements of Phase 1B transport operations between Soweto and the Johannesburg CBD via Auckland Park. It also accommodates the assembly of Rea Vaya bus fleet and serves as a dispatch point for return trips to the existing Meadowlands depot in Soweto.
The R250-million state-of-the-art Selby depot, scheduled to be completed by April 2018, will include an administration block, maintenance building, washing and refuelling bays, and the Intelligent Transport System control centre. The depot will also be used as a maintenance hub for both in-service and out-of-service buses.
Cllr Makhuba said the Booysens layover would reduce the number of unproductive or dead kilometres travelled during the day.
“This is an extensive exercise that will not only serve Phase 1B but also the third phase of Rea Vaya going to Alexandra and Sandton. This depot and holding facilities, once completed, will be owned and maintained by the City but leased to the bus operating company at a nominal fee.”
Cllr Ngobeni said public transport and related infrastructure were an instrument for change.
“The focus of the City’s investment in the medium term is to implement the existing bulk infrastructure to support increased development and improve public environment and social facilities as well as linkages to public transport facilities,” said Cllr Ngobeni.
He said the strategic framework of the City’s 10-point plan, announced by Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba last year, was about reforming the City’s public transport infrastructure, development of the inner city and key nodes, promotion of investment and attaining a minimum of 5% economic growth by 2021.
Cllr Ngobeni said both the layover and depot had created opportunities for SMEs.
“The developments we are celebrating today are a testament to the City’s commitment to reforming public infrastructure and encouraging investment,” he added.
Litsamaiso CEO Joe Mushwana said both the depot and layover would ensure the bus company rendered a safe and reliable service.
“We don’t want to see our buses experiencing breakdowns that would lead to commuters arriving late for work. We'd like to thank the City for its vision, which has now become a dream come true. Today we’re shareholders of a very efficient and reliable transport company,” Mushwana said.