Harambee, which means ”pulling or working together in unity” in Swahili, will launch operationally in 2016.
“Working with our various stakeholders in the public transport sector, we have done extensive work to build the infrastructure, and the order for the buses has already been placed,” said Gungubele.
“Our people must know that their safe, comfortable and affordable movement in terms of transport remains one of our key priorities and has been since the establishment of Ekurhuleni in 2000,”
The Harambee BRT primarily aims to connect the nine towns that make up Ekurhuleni, namely Benoni, Germiston, Springs, Kempton Park, Edenvale, Nigel, Brakpan, Boksburg, and Alberton, in a bid to overcome the problems created by apartheid spatial planning.
Construction of the Harambee BRT commenced in April, 2014, on the complementary route between Tembisa Hospital and the Tembisa Civic Centre.
According to the mayor, the system will be one of the key drivers for the regeneration of inner cities and the renewal of townships in Ekurhuleni.
The first phase, over a distance of 56km, will run from Tembisa in the north via Kempton Park, OR Tambo International Airport and Boksburg, ending in Vosloorus in the south.
The first phase will launch operationally in 2016 and the operationalisation of the entire project is projected for October 2017.
“The Harambee BRT system will be a safe, reliable and affordable public transport system, which includes a specialised design, services and infrastructure that will improve and enrich the lives of Ekurhuleni’s 3.1 million citizens,” said Gungubele.
MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng Ismail Vadi said: “Harambee is an sustainable fund transport that will improve the quality of life for the people of our country. ‘
”The taxi industry must not see this development as competition, but as a business opportunity.”
Harambee will be operated by a state-of-the-art traffic management centre, in Kempton Park, which will control all of Ekurhuleni’s transport services through CCTV cameras, vehicle tracking and navigation systems in the buses and at the stations.
According to Gungubele, with regular travel times during peak and off-peak hours, passengers are able to plan their lives better and get to work, play and school on time.
“The BRT system was introduced as a means to enhance the standard of public transport and the quality of life for Ekurhuleni residents, which is also in keeping with the spirit of connecting Ekurhuleni,” he explained.
“It leads Ekurhuleni’s Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network, a two-decade long project which aims to upgrade existing bus services, revitalise rail networks and existing mini-bus taxi routes, while incorporating a network of cycling paths and pedestrian walkways to help people move quickly and easily across the metropolitan.”
Harambee’s universal access features include:
*Bridges and lifts at bus stations will allow people with disabilities to cross busy intersections safely and easily.
*Raised platforms at bus stops will enable physically impaired passengers and people with prams to embark and disembark smoothly via a boarding bridge to the bus.
*Ramps at intersections will enable people in wheelchairs or those with prams to easily move from sidewalk-level to road-level at intersections.
*Tactile paving will assist visually impaired passengers to cross the road at intersections, lead them to boarding platforms and guide them to stations.
*Audio and tactile push buttons at intersections will assist visually and auditory impaired passengers to cross the road.
* Bold and easy to read signage at bus stops will indicate if the stop is wheelchair-friendly and has raised route numbers for the visually impaired. Signage at intersections and bus stops will be at a height that is appropriate for wheelchair users. Variable message signs will be used on all buses and stations to indicate arrival times of buses.
*Universal access gates at stations will cater for commuters with special needs, to allow for quick and easy access to boarding platforms.
* Bus stations will be equipped with universal access toilet facilities.
Invited guests at the BRT launch included MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng Ismail Vadi, Ekurhuleni MMC for Roads and Transport Clr Petrus Mhlarhi, Members of the Mayoral Committee, city manager Khaya Ngema, delegates from the National Department of Transport, National Treasury, the Gauteng Department of Transport, the City of Johannesburg, the City of Tshwane, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Gautrain and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and other stakeholders.
