Motorists can expect more traffic nightmares in the future as the City of Johannesburg is intensifying its plans to have more dedicated lanes for public transport. This is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and to promote the use of non-motorised transport.
Following a successful EcoMobility World Festival in Sandton last year, the city now wants to further strengthen its efforts to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport. "We have piloted during the festival and are going to implement dedicated lanes for all forms of public transport, not only in the peak period," said Lisa Seftel, head of transport in the city.
Currently Johannesburg is implementing the following:
"A dedicated public transport loop around Sandton. This loop will be permanent and should start to operate by the end of the year. It will operate 24/7 for minibus taxis and buses, including Rea Vaya brT buses. Roads identified for the loop are parts of Rivonia, West, Fifth and Fredman Drive. For the route from Brightwater Commons, affected roads include parts of Republic, William Nicol and Sandton Drive.
"There will be a contraflow lane for all forms of public transport during peak hours from Brightwater Commons to Sandton and another along Katherine Avenue.
"We want public transport to have priority," Seftel said, "to make public transport speedier and more attractive than private-car use, especially to busy CBDs."
The city has similar plans for downtown Johannesburg which include roads in the CBD and Braamfontein.
Limited traffic zones
Over the month of October last year Sandton CBD was turned into a new environment with limited access to private vehicles, more cycle lanes and more access to public transport systems. Motorists were forced to take public transport as there was limited space for private cars.
The city then used data from this experience to design new ways of controlling traffic in other centres. By moving in this direction, Johannesburg joins several international cities that have limited traffic zones.
