The cost of running Tshwane’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system at a loss was raised as “a great concern” at the Southern African Transport Conference at the CSIR yesterday.
Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi expressed concerns regarding the future of A Re Yeng buses during his opening speech at the four-day conference.
He called on the 600 delegates to explore solutions to problems related to the business viability of the BRT system in cities.
Deviating from his prepared speech, Maswanganyi said he had seen almost empty A Re Yeng buses constantly travelling on the city roads. He suggested that the BRT buses were running at a loss by not attracting more commuters.
“I have seen the BRT buses from Hatfield and that side of Sunnyside with two people. I don’t know whether I should continue to subsidise such a bus.”
Maswanganyi threatened to withdraw government financial support for the buses and divert it to taxis if the situation did not improve.
“How do you continue to subsidise a bus travelling with only a driver? Who am I subsidising? The bus driver or the bus?”
He challenged scientists and academics among the delegates to come up with solutions.
“If it is not working, tell us and next year we will stop it (the BRT system). Say ‘Minister this thing is not working because of one, two, three’.
“Maybe we didn’t do thorough feasibility studies when we conceptualised the BRT system. It is a matter that all of us here have to look at and find a solution,” he said.
Transport analyst Paul Browning said there was generally a great concern about the amount of money spent on the BRT system.
He said the matter had been raised by the National Treasury and would receive attention at the conference.
MEC for Roads and Transport Dr Ismail Vadi said: “Current BRT ridership usage is not that great. We have already invested around R15billion in the system in the three metros, but Gauteng ridership usage is not more than 75000 people per day.”
Vadi said the BRT roll-out was happening in the cities.
“When fully in place BRT will comprise 700km of dedicated bus lanes.”
He said it was important to ask some serious questions about the system. “Should we have gone for something more affordable and more viable? Do we need such fancy stations?” he asked. Vadi said the government was spending around R50 million to R70m on on each BRT platform. “We must learn from this,” he said.