Transport

The Government's Promise

The transport programme for the World Cup will ensure the smooth movement of fans, FIFA officials, associates and media. As importantly, a vastly improved public transport system will be secured as one of the legacies for South Africa.

The Department of Transport, in consultation with the transport sector, developed the 2010 Transport Action Plan. The plan integrates transport, security,
emergency response and socio-economic development.

The broad principles of the 2010 Transport Action Plan are to:
• accelerate existing transport plans and maximise existing transport infrastructure
• improve public transport and promote its use
• integrate existing transport services
• accelerate implementation of the Government’s economic and sustainable development policies.

2010 World Cup transport projects are funded through the Public Transport Infrastructure and System Grant, with an allocation of R11,7 billion. Government is using the World Cup to spur a major revolution in South African’s transport system through investments in:
• public transport and road infrastructure
• rail upgrades
• internodal facilities
• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems
• inner-city mobility systems
• call-centre systems
• airport-city links
• freight services
• passenger safety
• intelligent transport systems.

Distance travel
A great deal of the transport preparations are happening at host city level. However, equally as important is moving visitors across the country. Distance travel will be offered by taxis, buses, passenger rail, luxury coaches, tour packages, private car-hire companies and domestic aviation. South Africa will temporarily increase its operational capacity for distance travel – primarily by making available additional vehicles and improving operational efficiencies.

The Department of Transport is preparing to provide a fleet of 2 035 luxury and standard buses, 60 train sets and 1 000 bus coaches. Some 1 400 luxury coaches are being procured. Once the event is over, these vehicles will be used for communities.

Government has committed that by 2010 there will be a train available every five minutes in peak times and train services 14 – 16 hours a day.

Air transport
South Africa has a solid aviation infrastructure. The Airports Company South Africa is busy with a R19,5-billion airport-infrastructure expansion programme to meet standard projected growth. Temporary interventions in air space, airports and air-traffic operations will accommodate the surge of visitors
in 2010.

Intelligent transport systems
2010 will accelerate South Africa’s use of intelligent transport systems. This involves the use of technology to manage congestion, incident response and travel demand. Integrated electronic ticketing will mean fans need to buy only one data-rich ticket that grants access to matches and public transport.

Demand analysis and management
Demand management is a key strategy that accompanies the major infrastructure investments. This operational planning allows officials to identify and meet transport demands – right down to the number of fans who may be arriving at an airport or leaving a stadium at a particular time on a particular day.

The Department of Transport has developed the Travel Demand Model and submitted the required operational plans for the Confederations Cup and World Cup to FIFA on schedule, on 31 March 2008 and 30 June 2008 respectively.

To ensure that all transport needs are met during the tournaments, a “serving concept” has been developed consisting of three main categories:
• dedicated transport for teams, FIFA VIPs and visiting dignitaries
• a premium transport service, catering for the needs of special groups, such as media and tour operators
• transport for general travellers. Flagship transport projects

Some of the flagship transport projects for the World Cup include:
• the Khulani Corridor in the Eastern Cape at a cost of R321 million
• the N1 and N2 Toll Highway costing R5 billion
• the Sani Pass road upgrade bordering South Africa and Lesotho at a cost of R200 million
• the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme at a cost of R23 billion.

Durban:
• the Public Transport Interchange
• a new railway station adjacent to the Moses Mabidha Stadium
• public transport lanes for the M4 motorway
• upgrading the Western Freeway
• people-mover buses for tourists, covering the beachfront route.

Cape Town:
• a major investment in the rail system, including new stations at Khayelitsha and Century City, the upgrade of Heideveld, Athlone, Langa and Cape Town stations, new coaches as well as park ‘n ride facilities
• dedicated bus lanes on freeways and improved transport corridors, widening of lanes on the N1 and N2 and a R450-million upgrade of the Koeberg interchange
• 300 new buses
• stadium precinct infrastructure and an improved inner-city distribution system.

Johannesburg:
• the Gautrain Rapid Rail link
• the Rea Vaya (we are going) project with 325 km of special public transport lanes and intersections, and 40 transport interchange nodes where commuters can switch from one form of transport to another.

Tshwane - Pretoria:
• the Tshwane BRT System, developing 472 km of bus ways and 113 km of mixed traffic lanes
• better access roads into the city, to airports and the stadium
• a new municipal bus fleet.

Nelson Mandela Bay - Port Elizabeth:
• a BRT system with 45 high-capacity buses and having stops at regular intervals, including Greenacres, the central business district (CBD), Korsten, Clearly Park, Motherwell and Njoli Square
• new modal interchanges at Korsten and Njoli Square
• rehabilitating and widening public-transport routes such as Sheya Kulati, Matomela, Diaz, Kempston, Pearl and Seyisi roads.

Mbombela - Nelspruit:
• upgrading the N4 northern bypass
• the airport-city link and stadium precinct developments
• roads, interchanges and footpaths in the eastern residential areas
• multimodal and pedestrian facilities in the business area.

Rustenburg:
• upgrading the N4 western and eastern bypass
• upgrading the taxi rank and bus facilities
• investment in arterial and secondary roads, linking the stadium to the city and access routes.

Mangaung - Bloemfontein:
• the development of an internodal public-transport facility, including upgrading the taxi rank
• street pedestrianisation to encourage non-motorised public transport
• improved access to Mangaung - Bloemfontein airport
• the establishment of a high-capacity public transport service between the south-eastern areas and the CBD.

Polokwane:
• upgrading roads, including all those leading to the stadium
• upgrading the Polokwane Centre bus terminus
• upgrading taxi ranks in the municipality and taxi holding areas.