Two Memorandums of Understanding were signed earlier this month, which will bring Cape Town one step closer to the dream 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.
“The City’s transport authority, Transport for Cape Town, will lead this transformation process, of which affordability and cost competitiveness form an integral part,” said Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town.
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.
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.
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