Johannesburg BRT System

With the opportunity presented by the upcoming 2010 Soccer World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa and the worldwide emergence of Bus Rapid Transit as a viable transportation alternative, a new vision of a sustainable, world-class public transport system for this city of 3.2 million is beginning to take shape.

Through its partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, ITDP is providing direct technical assistance to Johannesburg for planning the Rea Vaya BRT system. Johannesburg officials determined that a BRT system can deliver superior public transport service in time for the World Cup as well as leave a lasting legacy for Johannesburg’s citizens. 

The goal of Rea Vaya is to improve the quality of life of citizens by developing a system that places over 85 percent of Johannesburg’s population within 500 metres (547 yards or .3 miles) of a main or feeder bus corridor.  Plans for Phase 1 of the new system call for a total of 94 kilometres (58.4 miles) of trunk corridors encompassing a total route length of approximately 148 kilometres (92 miles).  Seven routes have been selected in order to give customers maximum flexibility and as few transfers as possible.

Rea Vaya aims to incorporate many of the features associated with a full BRT system, including pre-paid boarding, dedicated bus lanes, and real-time bus arrival information displays for customers.  An extensive effort will also be made to integrate the system with an array of other services, including feeder vehicles, pedestrian corridors, bicycles, metered taxis, and private cars.

Rea Vaya is scheduled to be inaugurated in early 2009 and will have over one year of tested operation prior to the start of the World Cup in June 2010.

Questions about this project can be directed to:

Aimée Gauthier