Rolling out Rea Vaya in Sandton

The City of Johannesburg will be rolling out the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Sandton.

A public notice meeting was held at the Grayston Preparatory School in Sandown regarding the BRT Phase 1C Section 8c route, in which 16 kilometres of Rea Vaya BRT lanes will link the inner City of Johannesburg to Alexandra and Sandton.

This will include the upgrading of pavements, constructing walkways and cycle paths from Alexandra to Sandton, and introducing a public transport loop in Sandton to make it more accessible. Construction has already commenced on Katherine and West streets, and will continue on 5th Street and Rivonia Road in the months to come.

Also, there will be a construction of a new BRT and pedestrian’s only road bridge over the M1 highway.

MMC for Transport, Christine Walters said the entire initiative was aimed at making Sandton a public transport network that accommodates pedestrians and cyclists.

“We want to take away the priority of cars in Sandton and hopefully reduce traffic,” explained Simon van Jaarsveld from Arup, a structural engineering firm.

Elaine Jack, from the City of Johannesburg added, “Road space will be reduced for cars and increased for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Ward 103 councillor, Vincent Earp said the plan looked exciting. “But the devil is in the detail and the execution,” he added.

Earp congratulated the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency on their presentation of how the BRT system would operate. He said, “It will be a challenge, but once completed it will benefit many people. We are looking forward to the integrated transport solutions.”Details: www.joburg.org.za.

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