By 2030, eThekwini Municipality will be Africa’s most caring and liveable city.

GO!Durban is far more than a public transport network, the system has been designed with a holistic view towards connecting the city and improving the lives of Durban’s citizens. With a fully integrated public transport system, GO!Durban will provide easier access to work, social facilities such as education and hospitals as well as goods and services. Overall the system will not only connect different parts of the city, but also connect the citizens of Durban to new opportunities and places that they otherwise would not have encountered. As such, GO!Durban has a range of aims and goals that not only improve the physical layout of the city but also the lifestyle of its citizens.

Aims

GO!Durban aims to create a world-class public transport system for eThekwini. To achieve these expectations, research has been conducted on the most advanced transport equipment and technology. Part of GO!Durban’s plan will involve upgrading the current bus fleets, facilities, stops and stations. These developments will be supported by professional transport planners who have been hired to ensure optimum performance from current and potential stations. To ensure that the public system becomes the dominant form of transport in the city, public transport will be given designated lanes creating a more efficient transport alternative.

GO!Durban aims to make Durban the most liveable city by 2030 through creating the utmost convenience for all passengers. By 2030, passengers will only wait between 5 and 10 minutes for a bus, during peak hours, and between 10 and 30 minutes during off-peak hours. Citizens will have access to public transport throughout the day as the system will run between 16 and 24 hours daily. Furthermore, all transportation will be equipped with full universal access to cater for passengers with special needs or wheelchairs. A range of integrated feeder services will also be implemented as part of the GO!Durban project.

In addition to the new bus system GO!Durban will also comprise of new railways and a non-motorised transport network. GO!Durban believes in sustainable and long-term solutions for transport. A single train has the capacity to transport over 12 000 passengers, these will operate between main suburbs to reduce the number of buses and taxis on the road. Buses have a capacity of roughly 90 passengers and taxis have a capacity of about 19 passengers, trains will therefore drastically reduce the number of vehicles on the road and create an environmentally friendly alternative to the current transport network. Non-motorised transport refers to cycling routes and walkways. These routes are already under construction and will help to prevent road related accidents as well as create clear paths to bus and train stations.

The entire system has been developed with careful consideration to safety. Certain measures will be taken to protect the public and provide emergency services. Safety will be monitored by a central control centre with a direct line to emergency care. The control centre will ensure the transport system works at optimum efficiency. An electronic fare system (The Muvo Card) is already in use and will be rolled out into the various modes of transport available in the GO!Durban public transport network. This will further improve the safety of GO!Durban as passengers will no longer need to carry cash with them. Several of these aims are already in place and GO!Durban aspires to deliver on all of them by 2030.

Goals

GO!Durban has several goals it will deliver on to improve the welfare of eThekwini’s residents and provide new opportunities for them.

The cityscape in Durban highlights its history and development. Durban’s architectural landscape is a mix of old and new that creates a unique personality. Architectural renewal is one goal GO!Durban aspires to achieve. The renewal will include urban rejuvenation and the revitalisation of run-down areas. In addition to helping to develop the city, these projects will also create new job opportunities that allow many citizens the chance to improve their current economic standing.

GO!Durban’s goals will not only affect the citizens of Durban but also the city’s infrastructure and its systems. The whole integrated rapid public transport system is centered on sustainability. The entire project will work towards reducing the overall impact of transport on the environment, through means such as reducing the need for cars by providing reliable bus services. The transport network will also rectify and enhance the spatial structure of the city through urban rejuvenation and by creating mixed-use developments such as bus stations that will also house businesses. Overall, GO!Durban will have a positive effect on the economic structure of Durban as it will improve tourism, provide additional job opportunities and maintain sustainable development.

The goal by 2030 is to ultimately provide up to 85% of all residents in Durban access to safe, affordable and good quality, scheduled public transport. Essentially, GO!Durban will create transit-orientated jobs and opportunities to provide improved the livelihood of many citizens and ultimately promote the emergence of a world-class city.