Date: 31/10/2006
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Jacobs: Randfontein Intermodal Facility launch


Speech by MEC for Gauteng Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works Ignatius Jacobs at the launch of the Randfontein Intermodal Facility

Friends
Colleagues
Ladies and gentlemen

Context

* The success of Car Free Day and the Transport Month campaign in raising awareness of public transport challenges
* The emergence of a new agenda for public transport as demonstrated by immense operator support for Transport Month
* The success of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane between the City of Tshwane and the City of Joburg

Project detail and background

This project was started in 2004, with site establishment in November of the same year. Commencement of earthworks and construction followed in February 2005, with the project being completed in March this year. The West Rand District Municipality (WRMD), abided by the specifications of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in executing this project, as guided by the following principles:

* the tender being awarded to a woman owned company, based in Kagiso
* fifty five percent of the project was expedited by local labour intensive methods
* a total labour complement number of 110 people have been sourced from the local communities
* thirty percent of the work was subcontracted to local entrepreneurs
* a significant involvement of people with disabilities.

This project has been done in partnership with the WRMD, Intersite, Randfontein LM, the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) and TAXIPROP. The total amount of funds expended is R8 million.

Modal integration

This initiative entails the integration of some or all of the different public transport modes (mainly taxis, buses and trains) into a unified and seamless public transport system. This is aimed at ensuring that that these public transport modes support and complement each other, operating as a single co-ordinated entity, while providing an effective, efficient and affordable service to the user.

In consultation with the relevant stakeholders like the municipalities, we have prioritised those public transport facilities that need upgrading and those that need to be developed as intermodal facilities. Randfontein is one of the prioritised public transport facilities that needed upgrading.

Within a walking distance is a train station and adjacent to the taxi rank will be a commercial facility that will contribute towards local economic growth.

The establishment of intermodal public transport facilities will, in general, help our province to begin a process of addressing the following challenges:

* the twinning of modal integration with transportation planning
* the creation of strategic transportation corridors
* work towards a single ticketing system
* inform work towards a new Commuter Subsidy
* creating sustainable means of mobility.

In line with this initiative, work is being done to:

* unveil a Freeway Improvement Scheme for Gauteng
* ensure that our province develops a better roads plan, informed by a revision of the entire road network
* introduce an ethos of public transport friendly toll roads
* improving the quality of life, of people in general, by improving the quality of public transport services
* ensure that transportation planning initiatives take place with the view to contribute to Gauteng becoming a globally competitive city region
* consolidate existing economic nodes within Gauteng, and further help in the creation of more jobs and the reduction of poverty and unemployment
* local economic growth and development
* increase efficiency and reduce total logistics time and costs
* encourage local investment and strategic investment in public transport infrastructure; in this regard, we have just signed an Intergovernmental Transport Charter
* further add weight to collaborative efforts and partnerships within the broader context.

Closure

The integration of public transport will further inform the development of a modern public transport infrastructure as we face the immense challenge of hosting the 2010 Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. The success of the World Cup will largely depend on the development and provision of an integrated, effective and efficient public transport system in our country.

Working together, as both provincial and local government, the private sector, public transport operators and the broader community, we will succeed in our endeavours to take public transport services to higher levels of quality, and build a better Gauteng.

Enquiries:
Alfred Nhlapo
Tel: (011) 355 7532
Cell: 083 376 8496
Issued by: Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works, Gauteng Provincial Government
31 October 2006