Construction for transport project under way

13th December 2013

By: Jonathan Rodin

  

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The first phase of the Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) system will be operational by 2015/16, following a R3.5-billion investment for the construction of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the integrated public transport system.

The funding, which was awarded to the Rustenburg local municipality (RLM) in the form of a Public Transport Infrastructure Grant (PTIG), saw construction starting in June 2012. As one of the fastest-growing secondary cities in South Africa, Rustenburg was earmarked by the national government as a candidate for a public transport upgrade as far back as 2007.

Sustainable Benefits

For the RLM, the project will deliver a host of sustainable benefits, such as cheap, efficicient transport that will contribute to attaining the city’s goals for its 2025 vision, which comprises six components: a city with a diverse and resilient economy; a logical and well-planned spatial structure supported and sustained by high-quality infrastructure; an appropriately skilled workforce; citizens that enjoy a high quality of life; a city renowned for its sus- tainable use and effective managment of natural resources; and a city which is well-governed by a municipal admin- istration providing decisive leadership.

The primary benefit will be to improve the mobility of the local population, of which more than 80% depend on public transport, says RRT.

Other benefits include upgrading road infrastructure, reducing traffic congestion, improving road safety for commuters, boosting local economic development, creating jobs, the reduction of carbon emissions in the local environment, creating modern and attractive facilities and supporting the tourism industry.

RRT explains that, owing to the scope and extent of the project, along with the tranched roll-out of PTIG funding, the RRT system is initially being introduced in four phases. The first two phases will include 12.5 km of dedicated bus lanes and 13 closed stations, with Phase 1 operational services providing for an estimated 150 000 passengers a day. When all four phases have been completed, all residents of Rustenburg will be able to access the RRT system within 1 km of their homes or places of work.

Green and Universally Accessible

When the RRT system opens to the public, it will provide 233 modern, low-carbon-emission buses running every four minutes in peak periods and covering the central business district (CBD) and the main township areas of Tlhabane, Boitekong, Freedom Park and Meriting as well as routes to the Waterfall Mall through the suburbs. The entire system will allow for universal access, catering to all passengers, including people with disabilities, the elderly, children in pushchairs, the hearing and visually impaired, and even commuters with bicycles.

Phase 1 construction comprised two trunk routes from the residential settlements to the Rustenburg CBD, with Corridor A from the CBD along the R104/Swartruggens road to the north-west of the city nearing completion. It features dedicated bus lanes, pedestrian paths and cycle lanes.

Construction has now started on Corridor B, which covers the north-east route from the CBD on the R510. Also in the pipeline are the modern, ‘green’ central station and control centre in the CBD, two bus depots, a new road bridge over the railway line and ped- estrian bridges to enhance commuter safety.

State-of-the-Art Technology

The RRT system will feature a cutting-edge intelligent transport system (ITS). The ITS system to be implemented for the project will apply global best practice in integrating technology into the operations of the RRT system.

The ITS components are being designed to include closed-circuit television surveillance, automated fare collection, a green wave of traffic signals to ensure smooth public transport mobility, communication on the buses and at the stations and depots, fleet management and bus tracking, and a host of other features. The entire system will be managed by a high-tech control centre, which will monitor buses and drivers, relay information to stations and keep schedules on track.

The design of the ITS components is being finalised and a tender is expected to be advertised in the second quarter of 2014. Other tenders to be awarded next year will be for the bus depot design, construction of the RRT central station in the CBD, construction of 13 closed bus rapid transit station superstructures and the construction of 2.5 km of dedicated bus lanes in the northern CBD, the RRT adds.

Boosting the Local Economy

Local construction companies and suppliers have benefited from a mandated minimum 25% local procurement threshold, which has already been met and exceeded by contractors who are required to actively ensure that materials and labour are procured as much as possible from Rustenburg local bus- inesses and residents.

As part of this mandate, to date, 600 jobs in construction have been created for local labour. Phases 1 and 2 of the project will see an injection of at least R875-million into the local economy.

Edited by Megan van Wyngaardt
Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

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