Planning of a BRT system as an integral part of city centre regeneration

As an integral part of our involvement in the project for the regeneration of the city centre area of South Africa’s capital city, Tshwane, Matrix Partnership were involved in the route planning of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system around the city centre.  The new BRT system, now known as A Re Yeng, will connect key destinations within and close to the city centre, including the railway station and the terminus of the recent Gautrain mass rapid transit railway that provides direct links with Johannesberg.

The Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network was a major feature of the city centre regeneration initiative, avoiding congestion on the city’s roads with its own dedicated bus lanes, making the city significantly more accessible through the reduction of travel times, and the generally improved standards of vehicle cleanliness, comfort and reliability, station provision and travel information.  In this context, the BRT system is seen as a vital component of the city’s regeneration programme.

Matrix Partnership was involved in the selection of the routes within the city centre, and in examining some of the preliminary issues associated with the system, and particularly with their alignment in relation to areas of major change and demand including major planned facilities in order to ensure excellent accessibility through a process of coordinated planning.

The construction of the first section of the estimated 2.6 billion Rand system was started in April 2013 and became operational the following year with further lines currently being actively planned.