The Rustenburg Rapid Transport project (RRT) would be known by the name “Ya Rona”, meaning “It is ours”, announced Rustenburg Mayor Mpho Khunou on Wednesday.

Khunou also launched the project’s taxi negotiating forum (TNF).

The TNF would negotiate compensation with the Rustenburg Local Municipality for taxi operators who could shed business owing to the start-up of the RRT.

The TNF would also work to organise the affected taxi operators into new bus operating companies, set to operate phases 1 and 2 of the new RRT system.

The routes of nine different taxi associations would be directly affected by the introduction of RRT services in 2016.

Khunou welcomed the launch of the TNF, saying that the forum would play a critical role in the preparations for implementing the RRT system.

To date the interests of the taxi industry, which consisted of 22 associations, had been represented by the Taxi Interim Structure (TIS).

Following the identification of the taxi associations that would be affected by the first two phases of the RRT, the TIS facilitated the formation of the TNF.

The TIS would continue to keep the taxi industry informed around the broader project progress and work to identify affected parties in phases 3 and 4 of the RRT, scheduled for implementation from 2018 and onwards.

“Although for local taxi operators the transition to the integrated public transport system has raised many concerns about their businesses and livelihoods, I am glad to confirm that this transition does offer true transformation for the betterment of all,” said newly appointed TNF chairperson Herman Sebego.

The TNF was now scheduled to depart on an international study tour of integrated public transport systems to gain insight into the operational requirements and challenges of running a public transport contract for a city.  

The RRT has two main trunk routes, with construction already under way. Corridor A of the RRT is 5 km long, while Corridor B is 7.5 km long. The trunk routes will have dedicated bus lanes, pedestrian pathways and cycle lanes.

Full network design has been completed.

Bus specifications have been finalised.

The RRT will make use of 233 buses in phases 1 and 2, covering 18 bus routes, carrying 180 000 passengers daily.