The Rea Vaya public transport project was launched in early 2009 in South Africa to build the most extensive Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on the the African continent. It will serve the region around Johannesburg, which has a high population living in urban conditions. The backbone of the BRT system is formed by special bus lanes in the centre of the streets and roads on which the long-range buses capable of carrying 100 passengers travel. The system also includes feeder routes with smaller vehicles as well as special bus routes through the centre of Johannesburg. The intelligent transport system for the project focuses on driver dispatch, passenger information and fleet management. The initial construction stage enabled the buses to travel unhampered across a total distance of 25km in and around Johannesburg serving 23 stations and moving approximately 70,000 passengers per day during the the World Cup football finals in 2010. A further two routes covering 65km opened in time for this event. Video camera surveillance systems enhance safety for passengers. Integration of timetables, ticketing and fare management will enable a commuter to travel using a single ticket across a wide variety of public urban transport carriers. By 2013, expansion of the system to 122km is planned, with a daily capacity of 430,000 passengers. In addition, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban and Bloemfontein will be integrated into the system.
Abstract