CAPE TOWN | IRT System (Integrated Rapid Transit System)

[Mo Rush]

IRT overview

The Cape Town Integrated Rapid Transit System is a bold initiative to transform the public transport sector by dramatically improving the customer experience. This initiative will seek to integrate all modal options into a coherent package for the customer. Among the modes to be integrated are: Metrorail services, road-based services on trunk routes, conventional bus services, minibus taxi integration, feeder bus services, improved pedestrian and bicycle access, metered taxi integration, and park-and-ride facilities.

The principal way in which the City of Cape Town will transform the road-based public transport services is a concept known as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). BRT is a high-quality bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective urban mobility with segregated right-of-way infrastructure, rapid and frequent operations, and excellence in marketing and customer service.

BRT has virtually all the performance and comfort of a modern rail-based transit system but at a fraction of the cost – typically four to 20 times less than a tram or light rail transit system and
10 to 100 times less than a rail system.

The BRT was successfully implemented in Latin American cities, such as Curitiba, Bogotá and Sao Paulo, as well as elsewhere including Brisbane, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Rouen, Beijing, Delhi, Jakarta, Nagoya, and Taipei. BRT has become a global phenomenon synonymous with quality public transport.

The central defining feature of BRT is its focus on customer service. Dedicated, median busways provide customers with dramatically reduced travel times. Because the vehicles move quickly in peak hour more people are encouraged to switch from private car use to public transport, which makes the whole system far more viable.
The dedicated lanes also reduce operating costs so that fare levels are quite affordable.

Special attention is also given to safety and security through the presence of extensive security personnel and the use of CCTV cameras.

[Mo Rush]

Station designs complete for new CT public transport system

With the first phase of the City’s Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) system set to get underway in March 2010, the project is now rapidly gaining pace.

The trunk station designs have been finalised, and construction is already underway in the Culemborg area. Five construction contracts have been awarded, including Culemborg, Paarden Island, and parts of Marine Drive (R27).

The stations – glass structures – will all have ticket facilities, security and CCTV cameras, variable message signage and recycling bins capable of handling pre-sorted litter of up to six different kinds.

Design features include angled poles that protrude beyond horizontal roofs and large 'totem poles' to identify the stations. Cost and aesthetics were both important considerations in the design process.

The trunk stations are designed to sit in the middle of the road, but will need to deal with a variety of different space constraints, producing more than 13 design variations.

Some are particularly long and narrow, for example, in Paarden Island, while on Blaauwberg Road there will be H-shaped stations and the main station at Greenpoint Stadium will be V-shaped and capable of handling about 20 000 people per hour.

There will also be a station designed with cut outs to accommodate existing trees outside the old Imperial cold storage building close to Buitenkant St.

The R1,3 billion Phase 1A will eventually cover the entire city and will only be completed in 2018. For now, the Phase 1A will feature an extensive inner-city network with trunk services to the airport, Atlantis, the Bayside area, Du Noon and Century City. (click here to view the map of Phase 1, PDF 1.1mb)

The next priority is the procurement of the vehicles. The city is currently finalising a cost-estimate, and is preparing four separate tenders to be sent out no later than February 2009.

In the meantime, the City is continuing to engage with current bus and minibus taxi operators, who are key stakeholders and operators of the new system.

[Mo Rush]

Phase 1A: Operational March 2010

Phase 1A: 2008 – March
2010
The first phase is a pilot or demonstration
phase for the rest of the project, and
focuses on the areas of the city that need
special transport services for the 2010 FIFA
World CupTM.

This phase will serve as a way to
test operations, and make necessary
adjustments. It will also give the industry
across the city an opportunity to see how
the system will work, and the range of
opportunities it offers for the minibus taxi
industry as a whole.

This will include a link from the airport to
the city centre, and from the city centre to
Green Point, Sea Point and Hout Bay, and
around the City Bowl suburbs. There will be
a route up the West Coast to Bayside Mall

[Mo Rush]

Construction

Courtesy of Annman

Originally Posted by annman

R27 median bus lanes...

Courtesy of Me

Originally Posted by Mo Rush

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

[Svartmetall]

Looks like an interesting set of projects. I'm glad to see that the Metrorail service will be upgraded and better integrated.

Though, what the heck is with all these acronyms these days? LRT, BRT, IRT - sheash!

[castrovalva]

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

Though, what the heck is with all these acronyms these days? LRT, BRT, IRT - sheash!

It's how managers and "consultants" justify their existence, and their exorbitant fees.

[Mo Rush]

Video: Dream in motion




Dream in motion - IRT promotional video

This video was produced to try and give you an idea of how the City of Cape Town's new Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system is going to change the lives of ordinary people living in the Mother City.

[Mo Rush]

Source: Warrenski at flickr.com

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

[Shezan]

great news for SA and Capetown transports

[dwdwone]

No light rail?

[Pule]

No light rail for now .. but it seems like there will be some in future

New rail agency has aspiration for 560 new coaches a year

By: Terence Creamer
10th April 2009


The newly formed Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) will need to introduce some 560 new coaches yearly for the next 10 to 12 years if it is to effectively match capacity to anticipated demand growth and reposition commuter rail at the heart of the country's public transport system, CEO Lucky Montana avers.

But he admitted in an interview with Engineering News that such an aspiration would require an investment far beyond the R25-billion already allocated by national government for the next three years.

Further, such a material scale-up, which could also include the creation of new rail corridors and the deployment of light-rail and high-speed trains, would probably only be possible in partnership with private sector investors and financiers.

Prasa is the product of the still unfolding merger between the South African Rail Commuter Corporation's Metrorail and the passenger transport businesses that have hitherto been housed within Transnet - Shosoloza Meyl and the Translux and City-to-City brands that fall under Autopax. It also embraces the Intersite property business that operates and maintains a significant property portfolio, including hundreds of stations.

"The main thing to understand is that the R25-billion has been budgeted for the upgrading of the service and to arrest the decline.

"But there will be a need for further new investment beyond that," Montana outlined, adding that a plan was currently before government.

A portfolio of new projects is being considered, including the R8,6-billion Moloto corridor rail system between Tshwane and Mpumalanga, which has already been endorsed by Cabinet and a high-speed, standard gauge train between Johannesburg and Durban.

Prasa is also assessing two serious bids to build a new link between Cape Town and the city's international airport, and a number of light-rail projects are also being canvassed.

A significant amount of money will also be needed to upgrade and modernise signalling as well as for new systems to improve train deployment and monitoring.

The most suitable funding and operational model for the various initiatives is also the subject of debate. Options range from public-private partnerships, through to pure State finance, or for Prasa to raise the money from the local and international capital markets off its own balance sheet, but with the help of a government guarantee.

With the addition of the intercity bus business, Prasa will also assess inter-modal transport options, particularly for those commuters seeking a reliable urban-rural transport alternative.

"We believe the integration of the bus services will compliment the rail service. It gives us the option to transport people across modes, using rail say from Johannesburg to Umtata and then a bus to rural Transkei," Montana enthused.

In the meantime, however, the focus is on a significant catch-up investment programme, designed to incrementally improve the existing service, which is currently able to sustain about 650-million passenger journeys yearly.

Some R4-billion has already been spend on upgrading rolling stock, and there is a programme to upgrade 2 000 coaches by the end of 2010. Montana anticipated that about R5-billion would be spent in the next financial year.

"We have done 1 400 already, and 700 more of these will be done in the new financial year," Montana said, adding that there was also a significant drive to improve the station infrastructure, particularly those that would be used during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Some R300-million has been set aside for small incremental improvements to the station sites, from the revamping and opening of toilets, through to new fencing and painting programmes.

"We have the upgrades, but we are now reaching a point where we need to begin adjusting from upgrades to building new capacity.

"And, we know that this company, at this point in time, does not have all the financial resources and that we will have to get support from the private sector," Montana concluded.

Source: www.engineeringnews.co.za

[Mo Rush]

First phase of new route on target for completion

May 08, 2009 Edition 2

Aziz Hartley

WITH the 2010 soccer World Cup 13 months away, phase one of Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) system is on target for completion in March.

City council officials and engineers showed yesterday how construction of a dedicated trunk road that stretched from the city centre to the Bayside Mall in Tableview had progressed.

Road works under way on the route run through Woodstock, Paarden Eiland and across the Salt River canal before it links to the R27 and heads north.

Construction work includes a dedicated lane for cyclists.

"We are doing everything to cause the least inconvenience to the public during construction, and apologise for the inconvenience," said council media manager Kylie Hatton.

The first phase included a link between the city centre and Cape Town's 2010 stadium, and with the airport.

While the links would be completed before next year's soccer spectacle, the next phases in the IRT system would later be rolled out to include areas such Du Noon, Atlantis and Mamre on the West Coast, and east metropole areas such as Blue Downs, Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain.

Bus stations along the approximately 16km route would have surveillance cameras, electronic information boards and security guards.

Surveillance cameras would also be installed on the route and traffic on the IRT would be monitored at a control room based in Goodwood.

Tourists would benefit from transit maps on buses and electronic display of landmarks, Hatton said that phase one was part of a public transport undertaking made to Fifa.

Andre Frieslaar, an infrastructure engineer with HHO Africa, said the dedicated lanes would be constructed in a way to prevent it being used by traffic other than the special commuter buses.

City council chief engineer Ron Haiden said that about R500 million had been allocated to seven contracts, and that roadworks were expected to peak later this year.

About 60 bus stations, some with four or six platforms, would be built.

"This route was chosen as a first phase because it is manageable and affordable," he said.

aziz.hartley@inl.co.za

[Mo Rush]

Construction update:


Milnerton Bridge



Before N1 underpass
\

Salt River Canal Bridge



N1 underpass

[skytrax]

great news!

[Mo Rush]

Update! Thanks to warrenski at flickr.com

Work on Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transport system progresses on the edge of Paarden Eiland, alongside the N1 freeway, where it looks as though new bridges will be raised.
image hosted on flickr


Work on Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transport system progresses on the edge of Paarden Eiland, alongside the N1 freeway, where abandoned buildings have been demolished to make way for the corridor.
image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


Work on Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transport system progresses. Here curb-stones are being cemented in place as the new lane nears completion.
image hosted on flickr


Looks like the work done on a demonstration curb, has now been undone.
image hosted on flickr


Work on Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transport system progresses parallel to Otto du Plessis Drive, alongside the suburb of Sunset Beach.
image hosted on flickr


Work on Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transport system progresses. Here, just outside Dolphin Beach in Table View, the centre island is being turned into bus-lanes.
image hosted on flickr


Work on Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transport system progresses parallel to Otto du Plessis Drive, alongside the suburb of Sunset Beach. Pictured here is the new bicycle lane that's starting to take shape.
image hosted on flickr

[Mo Rush]

[Mo Rush]

Otto du Plessis Drive
image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[Mo Rush]

image hosted on flickr
Uploaded on January 13, 2010
by Anastacia Haddon
image hosted on flickr
image hosted on flickr

[Mo Rush]

Gallery

Granger Bay Blvd Granger Bay Blvd Granger Bay Blvd Granger Bay Station Construction Granger Bay Station Construction Granger Bay Station Construction Green Point Traffic Circle Green Point with IRT station bottom right Bridge from Church St Construction in Paarden Eiland Hertzog Blvd lanes Hertzog Blvd from Civic Centre IRT lanes along the N1 IRT lanes at Woodstock station IRT lanes on the Culemborg site IRT lanes on the left of the N1 IRT lanes on the right of the N1 IRT red lanes out of the City towards the R27 IRT Route towards and under the N1 IRT station construction in Paarden Eiland Lanes at the Civic Centre Lanes coming into Town Lanes to Civic Station Salt River bridge and route to the CBD Red lanes along the N1 Red lanes in Culemborg site Red lanes in Milnerton Red lanes through Milnerton Woodstock station Salt River construction Viaduct next to the N1 Paarden Eiland Route and R27 Route on the right Robin Carlisle Elizabeth Thompson Mayor Jeremy Cronin Felicity Purchase on red lanes Policiticians inspecting the red lanes along R27 City Politicians inspecting red lanes on R27 Civic Centre Platform construction Civic Centre Platform Construction Civic Station approved Civic Station Civic Station Civic Station Civic Station Civic Station Civic Station Civic Station approved Civic Station Construction Civic Station Construction Civic Station lanes and platform Granger Bay Station Granger Bay Construction Granger Bay Station Granger Bay station Granger Bay station Granger Bay Station Construction Airport Station Concept Hertzog Blvd Granger Bay Station Green Point Stadium IRT Station Helen Zille talking to a commuter on Woodstock bridge Mayor Premier and Deputy Minister of

[Mo Rush]

City orders IRT vehicles from Volvo

The City of Cape Town has placed an order to purchase the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) vehicles from Volvo.

The City’s Supply Chain Management Bid Adjudication Committee recommended on 12 October that Volvo was the preferred bidder for the supply of the IRT trunk vehicles, and the City has been negotiating with Volvo on the initial quantity and delivery schedule for the IRT vehicles. The Council, at its meeting on Thursday 26 November, approved the budgetary provision of R101, 5 million to purchase the IRT vehicles and for additional services such as driver training.

The City’s operational transport plan for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ includes 43 IRT buses as an integral component of the event transport service. The buses will be used to provide a bus service from the airport to the Central Business District and a service from the station at the Civic Centre to the new Cape Town Stadium in Green Point on match days. After the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ these buses will be used as part of the IRT service as it is implemented.

At the Council meeting of 28 October, Council approved that IRT implementation proceeds as and when funds are received, but included a special provision to provide for the requirements of 2010 FIFA World Cup™, including the acquisition of the IRT vehicles. There is a need to exercise a prudent approach to the implementation of the IRT in the light of cost escalation and uncertainty on the receipt of indicated funding from National Government under the present economic circumstances.

Following Council’s decision in November, the order to purchase the IRT vehicles according to the agreed bus delivery schedule, has been finalised. The negotiated bus delivery schedule, while tight, has been agreed between the City and Volvo.

The negotiated bus delivery schedule allows for the delivery in Cape Town of training vehicles from January to March 2010. This will allow the training of bus drivers to proceed in parallel with the appointment of the operator of the service for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ event.

The manufacture and assembly of buses takes place in a phased manner with the City taking delivery in Cape Town of the buses at the rate of approximately five per week from April 2010.