One Ticket, One Timetable and One Integrated Bus Service for Capetonians | Western Cape Government

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One Ticket, One Timetable and One Integrated Bus Service for Capetonians

5 May 2014

The City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government and Golden Arrow Bus Services this morning signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on working together to establish a world-class, integrated transport system for the benefit of residents and visitors to the city and the broader metro region.

The City, through Transport for Cape Town (TCT), is committed to transforming all aspects of the city’s transport network and operations, in realising its vision of a world-class, affordable, integrated, interoperable and intermodal transport system for the benefit of all residents. Currently different transport services are being managed by different spheres of government. The aim is to transform this system by locating the management of all operations at local government level so as to enable this integration.

“TCT will lead this transformation process, of which affordability and cost competitiveness form an integral part. As outlined in the first MOU, the City, under the auspices of TCT, will work with the Western Cape Government through the Department of Transport and Public Works (DoTPW) which will provide advice, guidance and support, as well as performing a key oversight role to facilitate the smooth transition,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron.

The second MOU between the City, the DoTPW and Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) serves as a departure point for the imminent integration of the GABS and MyCiTi bus services to establish one integrated bus service with unified branding, one timetable and scheduling system linked to the integrated public transport network, one performance management system and finally, one integrated ticketing and fare management system.

The MOU acknowledges GABS as a significant role player, being the largest scheduled bus operator in the city, and which has been integral to the provision of public transport to the residents of Cape Town since 1861 as a private sector operator and 1997 when it was officially contracted to provide bus transport services for commuters on scheduled routes in the city.

GABS will be contracted as a scheduled bus service operator and, as such, will be a key role player supporting TCT in this transformation process inherent with the City’s Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan (CITP).

“The objectives of the two MOUs are to ensure a smooth and seamless transition process, to lay the foundations of a good working relationship between the different role players, and to establish the basis for an adequately resourced and expanding road-based scheduled public transport service which continually improves and delivers on the growing demand for public transport across Cape Town,” said Councillor Herron.

Robin Carlisle, Minister of Transport and Public Works added that these are the first two of a series of MOUs required in terms of the Western Cape Provincial Land Transport Framework where the Western Cape Government aims to confirm the future of a unified public transport environment, which will serve the broader Cape Town functional region.

"There is not a more important task for us as government than to succeed in this venture, bearing in mind that nothing else can bridge the apartheid barriers of this city faster and better than integrated public transport. Nor is there any other undertaking that can create more jobs, ease the life of the poorest of the poor, and allow them to access the natural glories of this region," said Minister Carlisle.

It is of fundamental importance to create a long-term, sustainable and cost-effective transport system for Cape Town and the signing of these two MOUs will assist a great deal in ensuring the extension of a world-class public transport system to all residents and in meeting the growing demand for such a service in the years to come.

Media Enquiries: 

Councillor Brett Herron
Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 1298
Cell: 082 518 3264
E-mail: brett.herron@capetown.gov.za 

 

Siphesihle Dube
Spokesperson for Robin Carlisle, Minister of Transport and Public Works
Ministry of Transport and Public Works
Cell: 084 233 3811
Tel: 021 483 8954
E-mail: siphesihle.dube@westerncape.gov.za