Jhb BRT a 'world class' system

2009-10-23 14:06

Johannesburg - Johannesburg's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is "world class" with "the cleanest BRT buses in the world", a New-York based transport consultant said on Friday.

"There are the nicest stations I've seen around the world. They're safe and comfortable," said Walter Hook, the executive director of the New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

He jokingly told a transport indaba in Newtown, Johannesburg, that one might want to "hang out" at the stations the whole day.

The aim of the indaba is to give the City of Johannesburg and others with interests in transport the opportunity to give feedback on the first three months of the Rea Vaya BRT operations which launched in Johannesburg at the beginning of September.

Road planning issues, congestion and public transport facilities would also be discussed.

"The input will help enrich planning in transport... transport is about co-ordination," said member of the mayoral committee for transport Rehana Moosajee, who acknowledged the many issues in the public transport system.

The BRT system started off with some problems as taxi operators disrupted services when they embarked on a go-slow.

Talks between government and taxi bosses were underway.

- SAPA