By ANEL LEWIS
Fifa has included contingency measures in its host city transport operations plan in case the City of Cape Town's public transport plan is not ready in time for the World Cup.
In its September update of the plan, Fifa notes that the May 2010 deadline to have the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system running is "very tight and the possibility that this service may not be available for the event poses a considerable risk to the planning of the even transport services".
The extent of the top-up transport services that will be needed for the event will depend on how much of the IRT will be ready. The first phase of the IRT has been scaled down because of escalating costs. The project, estimated to cost R1.3 billion a year ago, will now cost the city R4.3bn.
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Some of UCT's Jamie Shuttle Service buses, which will not be in use because the event coincides with university holidays, may be used for the event's park and ride services.
The completion of the revised Phase1A of the IRT "within time and budget constraints" has been identified as one of the risk factors of the city's 2010 transport plan.
An estimated 175 000 extra commuters are expected daily at peak times during the event. The city will discuss extending the hours of other forms of transport in areas that will not be serviced by the first phase of the IRT.
Fifa said that transport during the World Cup would be concentrated in the city centre, Green Point Stadium precinct and Cape Town International Airport. Transport operations for the event will be co-ordinated from the new Transport Management Centre at Goodwood and the operational cost of managing transport during the event will be R80 million.
In a report submitted to the city's transport portfolio committee Peter Sole of transport, roads and stormwater said the city would have to negotiate with landowners for the use of about 32 000 parking bays.
Most of the games being played at the Cape Town Stadium have an 8.30pm kick-off.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Times on November 09, 2009
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