The Gauteng government has appointed the 2037 Consortium to assist it in generating a 25-year integrated master transport plan for the province, says transport plan task team leader and Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe.

The 2037 Consortium consists of Gibb, BKS, Iliso Consulting, Aganang Consulting Engineers, Khuthele Projects, IHS Global Insight, Equinox Communication, Techso, Afrigis and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi announced in May last year that a task team would be appointed to draw up a new 25-year transport plan for the province, mapping future road, freight and rail developments for the economic powerhouse of South Africa.

The first task at hand for the 2037 Consortium in drawing up a master plan is to look at existing transport planning and infrastructure in the province and to also consider current land-use, says Van der Merwe. Land use generates points of departure as well as destinations – such as home and work – creating transport corridors.

“The consortium would also have to consider that we have more than 200 000 people migrating to Gauteng from other parts of the country each year, and that we have a large number of people coming here from the rest of Africa,” notes Van der Merwe.

The consortium would then have to integrate these current scenarios with what the Gauteng and national governments have in the planning pipeline for the next few years.

“They would also have to consider how this 25-year plan can be implemented, as well as how it can be funded. Naturally, consultation with all stakeholders, private and public, is pivotal when drawing up this plan,” says Van der Merwe.

“The most important thing to remember is that it is vital that any transport plan must contribute to the economy of the province.”

The 2037 Consortium was selected from a list of five bidders.

The task team has to deliver the 25-year transport plan to Vadi in March next year, which Van der Merwe says “is a rather tight deadline”.