COJ goes green
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) aims to provide better public transport networks and a reduction in congestion to keep carbon emissions as low as possible.
One of the city’s prime transport infrastructure projects is the Rea Vaya bus rapid transport system.
The Rea Vaya will eventually run along 330 kilometres of dedicated routes with modern bus fleets. This will allow more than 80 percent of Joburg’s residents to catch a bus, placing residents within 500 metres of a trunk route or feeder corridor.
Prior to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Mayors Summit taking place this week, the CoJ said the Rea Vaya buses are the cleanest on the continent.
These buses are said to run on low-sulphur diesel with the most advanced pollution reduction equipment. They apparently reduce nitrous oxides by thousands of tons a year and particulate matter by hundreds of tons annually.
The city’s intention to reshape urban areas through its Corridors of Freedom initiative promises an effective and affordable public transport system.
Residents in local suburbs are said to benefit from the city’s Transit Oriented Development (Tod) once it is in place.
In June last year, the CoJ announced its plans to reshape the route between the inner city and areas surrounding Eastgate.
At the time, Mr Thabo Rangwaga from the city, said the inner city and Eastgate link was identified as an important link.
The city is also aiming to replace more than one third of its Metrobus fleet with modern and dual-fuel green buses.
A tender has already been issued for this project.
The city encourages citizens to switch their mode of transport to alleviate congestion and pollution.
“If only 15 percent of car users, who live close to the city switch to Rea Vaya, CO2 emissions can be cut by 1,6 million tons by 2020. Doing this can also contribute to a greener economy and create strong and sustainable new employment and income generating opportunities. The choices we make today will determine the future of our city, country and planet,” said the executive mayor of Johannesburg, Clr Mpho Parks Tau.
For more information regarding the C40 Cities Mayors Summit, visit https://c40summitjohannesburg.org/
