According to MMC for Transport, Christine Walters, four contracts had been awarded to start Phase 1C of the bus rapid transit system.
Phase 1C consisted of two routes; one would run down from Ivory Park along the north-eastern side of the city and another would run parallel from the south of the CBD into the northern area and would link “rich Sandton” with “poor Alexandra”, Walters said.
Adding to the 144 buses and 134 buses operating in Phase 1A and Phase 1B respectively, 260 buses would operate in Phase 1C.
“I will be proposing through our integrated transport plan to the mayor that it’s possible that we are going up to seven phases so that we can address issues of people connecting into CBDs,” Walters said.
Additionally, Walters hoped to introduce a flat rate of R8 for all Rea Vaya trips.
For the 2014/15 budget year, the transport department was in talks with the city council’s treasury and finance departments, and MMC for Finance about introducing a flat rate that is in line with the current cost of other public transport, Walters said.
This seeks to improve upon the recent reductions to the fares for single or return trip users and for commuters who travel more than 25km.
“It was never the intention for the City to make this [the Rea Vaya] system expensive,” she said.
