Name and Location
Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) project, North West, South Africa.

Client
Rustenburg local municipality.

Project Description
The project aims to introduce a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Rustenburg, in the North West, similar to the Rea Vaya BRT system operational in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

The system, to be completed in four phases, will consist of 32 bus rapid transport stations and about 600 bus stops, reaching 85% of the population within 1 km of their homes.

The system will also include direct, feeder and distribution bus systems that will link with the RRT trunk roads along the R510 (to Kanana) and the R565 roads (to Phokeng) into the city centre. The fare system will be integrated, with the same pay-as-you-go smart card to be allowed as a means of payment on all routes and services.

Value
Phase 1 of the project will cost about R3-billion.

Duration
The full-service RRT will be completed by 2020 as funding is allocated from National Treasury.

Latest Developments
The RRT project team has reported that the first of the four-phase BRT network will be launched on three separate dates in early 2016.

Phase 1 will now be divided into three operational launch dates: Phase 1A, 1B and 1C, while Phase 2 remains unchanged.

Phase 1A and 1C will start operations in March and October 2016, while Phases 1B and 2 will come into effect in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Phase 3 and 4 will follow thereafter.

Phase 1A operations along the R104 Swartruggens road will be the first BRT service in the city, supporting 43 500 passengers using 36 standard buses, each with a capacity of up to 36 seated and 44 standing passengers along six routes. 

The bus, pedestrian and cycle lanes, as well as the pedestrian crossings, have been completed. Construction will  start on the six stations along the R104 in the coming months.

RRT acting director Amogelang Kgoathe says there have been “unforeseen delays” in starting the development of the central station.

The possible rezoning of Thabo Mbeki street is being investigated, which has had an impact on the overall project plan.

“The bus depots and the transport management centre for our initial operations in Phase 1A and possibly Phase 1C will be from temporary locations until the infrastructure programme catches up,” she explains.

Kgoathe adds that a few factors prompted the decision to introduce BRT services in a phased approach.

“The first is that we do not want to wait until all the infrastructure is complete before starting services, as this will be an ongoing project and we want to deliver to the residents sooner rather than later.

“The second is that, with each phase, we know we will be learning and gathering insights to make the next phase better and more efficient, making our business model stronger,” she explains.

In finalising the initial operations, the transport planning consulting team has also tested and amended passenger and bus numbers to ensure they are set “realistically” and guarantee an affordable service.

According to Kgoathe, there has been no major change from original estimates and RRT is comfortable that the figures are in line with the expected service demand.

“Passenger and bus figures are obviously not at full capacity at launch and will take some time to build as residents learn to use the service and become more familiar with schedules and stops,” she says.

In line with the construction and route plans, negotiations with the affected taxi and bus operators in Phases 1 and 2 are progressing.

Kgoathe says the team is working closely with the Taxi Negotiating Forum and the Bojanala Bus Company to agree on the process for procuring the operational bus fleet, which will be owned by the envisaged bus-operating companies.

The RRT project team is expected to share more information on the brand name, launch and status of negotiations with the industry, along with the operational plans, in October.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
The Rustenburg Integrated Network joint venture (project management); SMEC South Africa/UWP/Phatwe Joint Venture and MCivils (Corridor A); MCivils and UMSO Contractors (Corridor B); construction of the Corridor B (north-east) bus lanes has been awarded to two contractors – MCivils (local) for three sections of the contract and UMSO for one section; ARG Architects (station design).

UMSO will widen and build the two main bridges over the railway line on the proposed transport route. Local organisation and existing contractor MCivils will be responsible for the construction of BRT bus lanes and new road infrastructure.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
RRT marketing and communications unit manager, Muaaz Gani, email ganim@rustenburgrapidtransport.co.za.
RRT design and construction manager, Amogelang Kgoathe, email amogelangK@rustenburgrapidtransport.co.za.