The City of Johannesburg and its key bus operators, Johannesburg Metropolitan Bus Services (Metrobus) and Putco, on Wednesday signed an agreement setting up a consultative and engagement framework for the first phase of the planned Rea Vaya bus-rapid transit (BRT) system.

The city aims to have 43 new buses move along the BRT system's newly widened streets of Johannesburg by the time the Confederations Cup kicks off in June 2009.

Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo said that engagement with bus and taxi operators was vital to the timeous and successful implementation of the BRT system, which would “vastly improve” the city’s public transport.

“Engagements with bus operators up to now have been on an ad hoc basis – since Metrobus and Putco are the main bus operators who will be affected by phase one of Rea Vaya BRT, it is important for them to form a bus operator steering committee and have more formal interaction with the city interrogating Rea Vaya BRT proposals which will impact on their current operations,” he said.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the bus operators followed the signing of a similar agreement in December with the Johannesburg minibus taxi leadership, through the Top Six Taxi Association and the Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council.

“The city’s taxi operator engagement on BRT continues to be extensive, via a steering committee, technical committee and 18 affected associations, with assistance being provided by the city in terms of consulting and logistical support.”

Masondo said the city acknowledged the historical and present role of both the bus and minibus taxi industries in its public transport system, as well as their social roles and responsibilities.

The chairperson of the Metrobus board, Vincent Mntambo, commented that the MoU was the first step in showing his organisation’s commitment to assisting making the Rea Vaya project a success.

Putco’s MD, Franco Pisapia, also hailed the agreement as a milestone, saying it signified a commitment from all parties involved to investigate the pros and cons of the implementation of Rea Vaya.

Pisapia stressed that his organisation supported the Rea Vaya BRT concept as it was in agreement that the public transport system needed a revamp.

Last month, the city confirmed that the Rea Vaya BRT system would be available to provide bus services for the Confederations Cup in June 2009, concentrating on areas that would ensure the BRT could provide services around and between the key soccer stadia in the city, as well as looking to satisfy the need for enhanced public transport for commuters travelling from Soweto and surrounding areas into the inner city.