The first GO!Durban prototype station structure, at the intersection of Regent Street and Qashana Khuzwayo Roads in New Germany, has been completed! Its universal access and fare gates were tested, and the finishing touches are being done to the interior.

This is one of a number of stations currently being constructed on the first route of the new transport network from Pinetown to KwaMashu. According to Thami Manyathi, Head of the eThekwini Transport Authority, “these new stations are no ordinary “bus stops” but are the first step towards a new technological approach in public transport addressing the needs of a developing City.”

By 2030, the new transport network, will eventually have eight dedicated bus lane routes and one rail route, which will link the eThekwini Municipality from north to south and east to west. The first route, which is nearing completion, runs from Pinetown CBD through New Germany, Clermont, KwaDabeka, Newlands and Inanda ending at Bridge City in KwaMashu.

Stations will have a fully integrated CCTV system and electronically controlled ticketing system that will ensure commuters can travel safely, cost effectively and reliably. The current MUVO Smartcard technology being used on some public transport buses around Durban, will be integrated within this new system. In addition, there will be an Advanced Public Management Transport System that will provide passengers with information on bus arrival times. Information will be available on electronic displays at stations, on buses and also via Mobile Applications.

Each station will provide level boarding in compliance with universal accessibility (UA), meaning that people in wheelchairs, pushing prams and carrying suitcases, can access the station and bus with ease. The stations and buses will also be compliant with UA standards, with visual and auditory prompts for people with hearing or sight challenges. The City is also currently testing out Wi-Fi on selected People Mover Buses ahead of the new GO!Durban system going operational next year in order to see patterns of usage and uptake. Results of this test will determine the roll-out and availability of Wi-Fi in the new system.

It is planned that seven stations will begin functioning once the GO!Durban system begins in mid-2018.

Recently, the eThekwini Municipality received an award and commendation for two projects at the annual South African Institute of Civil Engineers(SAICE) Awards gala event for Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievements for 2016/2017.

SAICE received almost 60 project entries from across the country to compete for these prestigious awards. It included awards for international and technical excellence, as well as community-based projects.

On the back of receiving the highly recommended regional award for technical excellence earlier this year, the eThekwini Municipality won the national “Herrenknecht Technical Excellence Award” for the M25- C9 Underpass, which links KwaMashu to Phoenix Industrial at the start of the GO!Durban bus rapid transit (BRT) C9 route to Umhlanga Ridge.

In its citation SAICE said: “The underpass has been designed to provide passage for both dedicated busways and ordinary traffic, to eliminate the need for a second route across the M25 at another location. The project is also of significant architectural value and substantially improves the aesthetic appearance of the surrounding environment. The interchange provides an essential connection between a cluster of new Bridge City developments and the Phoenix Industrial area, while threading an entirely new transport system through the city’s existing infrastructure.”

Another section of the GO!Durban C3 route (KwaMashu to Pinetown), the provincial Main Road 577 through KwaDabeka Valley, a joint project between SANRAL and the eThekwini Municipality, was given a commendation at the ceremony.

SAICE’s citation said: “The project consisted of the construction of drainage, earthworks, a reinforced soil retaining structure and rock-fall protection on Main Road (MR) 577, which was developed as a link between residential areas to the north of the uMngeni River and economic opportunities to the south. The intricacy of the original design required expert engineering judgement, integrating the geometric requirements of a four-lane arterial road into complex and challenging terrain. The final section up the KwaDabeka Valley displays both the art and science of civil engineering and is easily seen and appreciated by anyone who travels the road. The MR 577 reduces the travel distance for commuters between KwaMashu and Pinetown by 12 kilometres and provides a vital regional additional crossing of the uMngeni River.”

The integrated public transport network will eventually link Durban through eight dedicated bus lanes and a rail route.

November 3 was the official launch of Disability Rights Awareness Month in South Africa. The national launch took place in eThekwini in partnership with, among others, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and eThekwini Metro. With the focus for the launch falling on affirming the rights of young persons with intellectual disabilities, the programme focused on two organisations whose mandate is to promote, protect and uphold the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities, i.e. the Durban Coastal and Mental Health (DCMH) and Special Olympics.

In an innovative and bold move to support mini-bus taxi operators, associations and regional taxi leadership improve their business, operations and services to commuters, the eThekwini Municipality launched Moja Cruise – its Taxi Incentives Programme (October 30).

Celebrating the role of the mini-bus taxi industry in the delivery of public transport in South Africa through the decades, pioneered out of sheer necessity during the years of apartheid, the Mayor, Cllr Zandile Gumede, invited representatives of the taxi leadership, to become involved in this new programme. “You have played a very important historical role in public transport. We acknowledge this and thank you, and we invite you to continue to do so with us, within an improved system for the City.”

“As we usher in a new era for public transport, we assure you that as government, we are walking side-by-side with you in creating solutions to the challenges that you face,” she said to the gathering of about 550 people including representatives of mini-bus taxi industry, politicians and City officials.

“We have and will continue to engage with the leadership of the industry, to develop a way in which operations can be improved and eventually incorporated within the new system.”

Cllr Gumede explained that as the growing needs for cities across the globe to become more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable in line with the United Nation’s New Urban Agenda, the eThekwini Municipality, will be rolling out GO!Durban, its long-term public transport plan, which includes the current public transport operators.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Mxolisi Kaunda has given provincial government’s support for the programme.

As a building block towards the new system, Moja Cruise has been created as a voluntary programme, which will begin as a pilot or test case in about four to to eight weeks time, with an expected 500 taxis initially enrolled. These taxis will be branded and easily identifiable as participants within the programme, and will include taxis from all Associations within the eThekwini Municipality. The successes and challenges of this pilot will help inform the future roll out of the programme throughout the Municipality.

Devised to improve operators’ businesses through better services to the commuters, and drivers rewarded for excellence, Moja Cruise will focus on providing an efficient, friendly and safe experience for customers.

The launch revealed some of the details of the programme, which will track vehicles and obtain feedback from the various structures like rank marshalls, associations and state-of-the-art tracking systems. Eventually commuters will be asked to rate their experiences. This will all feed into a system, which rewards the drivers and operators for excellence on a monthly basis.

Going forward, the City plans to develop public-private partnerships to support a bigger rewards programme which will help add value to the business operations of the taxis such as discounts on tyres, services and insurance, amongst others.

Preparations are in place to brief the industry ahead of the implementation of the programme towards the end of the year.

The Universal Access at the prototype station at the intersection of Regent Street and Qashana Khuzwayo Road in New Germany, for GO!Durban, the eThekwini Municipality’s improved public transport network, was recently tested.

GO!Durban stations are currently being built along the first route running from Pinetown to KwaMashu, and these stations will be what is globally known as “universal access” compliant. This means that people with disabilities such as those with hearing or visual impairments as well as in wheelchairs and including the elderly, people with babies in prams, or with bicycles have ease of access into the stations and buses.

The pavements leading into the stations and walkways within the stations leading into the control entrances will have tactile paving indicating where to walk. Voice prompts as well as visual prompts within the station and on buses will also be a feature. Wider access points will also mean easier travel for those in wheelchairs, or those with prams.

The control access points within the station comprising turnstiles and a Glastile wide gate for those with disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs and pushing prams were recently tested by two people in wheelchairs.

Technicians and experts were on hand to obtain feedback from them and test the timings to ensure ease of access.

The rehabilitation of the parking and traffic flow servicing the area along Qashana Khuzawyo Road, between the Escomb Road and Blase Road intersections in New Germany, is now complete. Parking and traffic here has, for some time, been disrupted due to the widening of Qashana Khuzwayo Road to make way for the dedicated bus lane running in the median, and the construction of the pilot station for GO!Durban (the City’s new integrated rapid public transport network (IRPTN)). The new system’s first route from Pinetown to KwaMashu is earmarked for completion in 2018.

According to the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA), the new configured parking plan allows for an easier flow of traffic with angled parking bays and provision made for more efficient loading areas for this busy shopping and business hub.

Thami Manyathi, Head of the ETA, says that the new GO!Durban system with the new station at Regent Street, will result in increased foot traffic, bringing critical mass to this area and the promise of economic spin-off for these businesses.

(07/10/17)

As part of the City’s Transport Month initiatives, Mayor, Cllr. Zandile Gumede, unveiled the new Cartwright Taxi Rank. The state-of-the-art rank is situated alongside Charlotte Maxeke Street. Speaking at the official opening, the Mayor said that the rank would give our commuters back their dignity.

The taxi rank boasts modern design with dedicated ablutions for people with disabilities, baby changing facilities, vehicle washing stalls which will house small business vendors.

The entire rank is secured by fencing with lockable sliding gates and tarred floors.

During the construction, over R600 000 was spent on sub-contractors to ensure the SMME development and local economic development was in line with radical economic transformation principles.

Job opportunities for local people were created to ensure local economic empowerment and job creation.

“Rank users and the public at large need to safeguard this rank and all other municipal public facilities from vandalism. The City is incurring billions of rands in debt to fix and repair vandalised facilities. This limits our ability to invest and provide new facilities to all 110 municipal wards,”said The Mayor.