BRT adds two new routes

29 April 2010 - 02:00
By Vusi Xabaxabav@sowetan.co.za
ON THE RIGHT TRACK: New BRT routes will be launcvhed in Eldorado Park and Protea Glen. Pic. Antonio Muchave. 30/08//2009. © Sowetan.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK: New BRT routes will be launcvhed in Eldorado Park and Protea Glen. Pic. Antonio Muchave. 30/08//2009. © Sowetan.

It's all systems go for the rollout of another phase of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System on Monday.

It's all systems go for the rollout of another phase of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System on Monday.

The City of Johannesburg will launch two new routes - from Eldorado Park, south of Joburg, and Protea Glen, near Soweto.

The routes will be a feeder service to the trunk route that runs from Thokoza Park to Ellis Park.

Mayoral committee for transport member Rehana Moosajee said yesterday they were ready to add another service.

"The route from Eldorado Park will be a feeder service to Thokoza Park station and that from Protea Glen will feed to the Lake View station."

Moosajee indicated, though, that a complementary route between Dobsonville and Maponya Mall would not be included in Monday's plans as was initially envisaged

"It an operational matter," Moosajee said. "We had problems when we launched the trunk route and we had to work on those problems.

"When we launched the feeder and complementary routes in Soweto on March 15 we decided we would ensure that it goes smoothly before we moved on."

She said the route between Dobsonville and Maponya Mall, which would complete the Phase 1A, would be rolled out on a date still to be decided.

The inner city route, which had been launched last year but cancelled after operational problems, would also be retained on Monday.

The route will operate within Braamfontein and Hillbrow and join the trunk route in Ellis Park.

Taxi boss Sicelo Mabaso, who sits in the BRT steering committee that comprises representatives from the taxi industry and the council, was elated with the developments.

Ralph Jones, who led a group of taxi operators disgruntled by BRT under the banner of the United Taxi Associations Forum, said they were still waiting for the council to explain how the taxi industry would benefit from BRT.