The wheels are turning

Rustenburg – A bus that will be used to test the effectiveness of the long-awaited Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) system was unveiled at the Civic Centre on Monday 29 June.

Local Municipality (RLM) executive mayor councillor Mpho Khunou, speaker Sheila Mabale-Huma, member of the mayoral committee for Roads and Transport councillor Lucky Kgaladi, as well as municipal manager Victor Makona were among those who boarded the bus for a ride into town.

Once fully functional, the system is expected to ferry 75,000 commuters daily and operate along the same lines as other world-class transport systems in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It is also expected to play a key role in creating new jobs and boosting the local economy.

The RRT system was supposed to go live in 2015 but delays caused by complex and lengthy stakeholder engagements including discussions with the taxi industry and local communities, saw that goal going up in smoke.

MMC councillor Lucky Kgaladi revealed that despite the delays, 21km of bus lanes have been constructed to date. Station substructures, 40km of non-motorised transport walkways as well as cycle lanes have also been built within the central business district (CBD) and in areas such as Tlhabane.

In an interview with Platinum Weekly, mayor Khunou said everyone involved in the project is learning many lessons. He emphasized how, like all residents, the municipality is also eager for the system to be up and running. “This project is a very important one and we have always said that it is a game-changer for Rustenburg. We will have a world-class transport system that will help us ease congestion in town by reducing all the public transport vehicles on the road.”

“The buses that will be part of this system will be ozone friendly because they will reduce emissions. It will have a major positive environmental impact,” he added.