Pretoria - The first phase of the much-awaited Tshwane Rapid Transit (TRT) A Re Yeng (Let’s Go) bus system is now 80% complete.
“Construction is progressing well and contractors are working around the clock to complete the infrastructure, with special focus on Line 2A, which is the Inception Phase of the TRT operations.
“Construction on Nana Sita Street is underway and it is expected to be completed in the first half of the second quarter of 2014.
“Construction on Kotze Street to University Road commenced in April 2013 and will be completed by the second quarter of 2014. The overall progress for the Inception Phase is 80% complete,” the City of Tshwane’s Executive Director for Strategic Communication, Selby Bokaba, said on Thursday.
The inception phase is approximately 7km long and runs from the corner of Nana Sita and Paul Kruger Streets in the Pretoria CBD to Hatfield in the east, via Sunnyside and connecting to the Gautrain Station in Hatfield.
Progress on A Re Yeng stations
Bokaba said the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) -- the implementing agent for construction -- has nearly completed the prototype station in Hatfield.
He said the station was 90% complete, with snagging being the outstanding works from the station.
Sanral’s procurement of contractors for the first six stations has been completed and construction of stations has begun along Line 2A.
The inception phase will have seven stations along the route: two in the CBD, three in Sunnyside, one at Loftus Stadium and one in Hatfield.
Bokaba said the “Memory Box” concept included in the A Re Yeng design has imagery and information relating to the historic buildings located around it.
“The ‘Retro Tram’ concept evokes the imagery of the old tram lines realised in a modern style. Its distinctive design and allegory to trams suggests a timeless quality that is rooted in the past but also reflects a modernity of the future. The construction of the stations commenced in February this year,” said Bokaba.
He said Line 1A is expected to be operational 12 months after the Inception Phase. This line extends from the intersection of Paul Kruger and Nana Sita Streets along Paul Kruger and Mansfield Avenue, to the Wonderboom Railway Station (Rainbow Junction) to the north.
Line 1A construction has commenced in three sections, which are: Paul Kruger Street from Pretorius Street to Venter Street, 2.4km; Paul Kruger Street / Mansfield Avenue, from Venter Street to Louis Trichardt Street, 2.9km and Paul Kruger Street / Mansfield Avenue from Louis Trichardt Street to Rainbow Junction, 2.9km.
Non-motorised transport
Bokaba said the construction of approximately 16km of a non-motorised transport (NMT) network in the Kopanong/Soshanguve area has reached practical completion.
According to him, 15km of road has been paved to date, while the outstanding work includes construction of universal access features, pavement structures at crossings and a drainage upgrade along some sections.
Benefit for bus, taxi industries
He said the purchasing of the 30 buses for operations during the Inception Phase is underway. The buses are being purchased by the Bus Operating Company (BOC) TRT. The BOC is an interim body that represents affected bus and taxi operators.
Bokaba said the delivery of the first batch of buses is envisaged to be in the second quarter of this year.
“The delivery period will allow for sufficient training time for drivers and for the City to embark on a programme to launch the buses and market the A Re Yeng system to potential customers.
“… The city does not wish to leave the bus and taxi operators worse off, hence the move to source A Re Yeng drivers from the database of those operators that will be affected by the introduction of A Re Yeng. (They) will be employed and trained by BOC TRT.”
Bokaba said as the project reaches the operationalisation stage, it has become necessary to create enough in-house capacity in the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) division to manage the operation of the TRT effectively.
The IRPTN structure and organogram is in the process of being implemented. Recruitment is in progress by IRPTN and the City’s Human Resource Department.
Fare collection system
Bokaba said an automated fare collection system will be used on A Re Yeng.
“A Re Yeng will run on a Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) bank-issued debit card-based system. The appointment of the fare collection system agent for the delivery of the system has been finalised, and the City is in the process of finalising the Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the system with the successful bidder,” he said.
Bokaba said the SLA needs to be in place before equipment can be ordered, fitted in the buses, stations and tested in preparation for operation.
The A Re Yeng Control centre, which will house staff and control all communications linked to the bus trunkline, will be housed at the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) headquarters.
The building design has been completed. The installation of equipment in the centralised control centre (CCC) will start according to the programme once designs are completed.
The A Re Yeng system will integrate with other modes of transport, including feeder vehicles, bicycles, pedestrian, private cars and metered taxis, for the convenience of the user. - SAnews.gov.za
