Gauteng's Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works will be facing several challenges on which it must focus.

These include creating a provincial government link, completing the Gautrain by 2009/10 and tackling transport needs for the 2010 world cup.

MEC Ignatius Jacobs yesterday presented his budget speech in the Gauteng Legislature to outline how he intends spending the R1,4-billion the department has at its disposal.

The budget has decreased from last year's R1,7-billion due to traffic issues being handed over to Community Safety.

This year, he intends creating 20% of 120 000 new jobs, and reducing poverty, costs of public transport and time travelling by 5%.

The new jobs will see women and previously-disadvantaged South Africans involved in the main.

Only 7% of the budget will be spent on administrative functions, the remainder being spent on public works, the expanded public works programme, roads and transport.

Some 51% of this will go towards the transport and roads branch in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.

He aims to make public transport the preferred mode of transport in Gauteng, but conceded that this means a “major overhaul of our current approach to public transport”.

The key pillars of an integrated transport system will be in place by September, ready for public comment.

Some R8-million, excluding the national government grant, has been reserved for the taxi recapitalisation project.

In addition, training of senior taxi officials is ongoing and R4-million has been set aside for this purpose.

Bus routes are to be redesigned along with bus provider contracts.

This will ensure that more people benefit from procurement and more people have access to transport.

Some R2-million has been set aside to complete the design of bus routes and R1,2-million will go towards two projects to improve the current subsidy system, which sees the Gauteng government shelling out R788-million for a million commuters.

Looking into modal integration, Jacobs said that he will be investigating an integrated ticketing system.

This would mean commuters not having to use two tickets when transferring between the Gautrain and other rail services.

In addition, the department will be facilitating the Shova Kalula project - aimed at encouraging the use of bicycles.

Jacobs said that this would also empower small enterprises as repair centres and shops.

The South African National Road Agency's pilot project on the Ben Schoeman highway that monitors traffic flow through the use of CCTV cameras may be expanded to other freeways in Gauteng, if successful.

Several roads in the northern suburbs and the Cradle of Humankind are under construction.

In addition, the Soweto-to-Krugersdorp road is being doubled.

Jacobs highlighted several other roads, including a possible venture to enable access to the proposed Rainbow Junction stadium in Tshwane in time for 2010.

But upgrading and providing more roads is pointless if pedestrian safety is not considered.

Addressing this, he said that adequate provision would be made for pedestrians, including bus and taxi stops.

This year sees the Heidelberg road being doubled at a cost of R105-million.

The project will be complete in September for an official opening.

Rivonia road and the Kya Sands-to-Sandspruit roads will also be upgraded.

Many other projects are planned to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce accidents on Gauteng's roads.

These will go some way towards providing the jobs Jacobs has promised this year.