Durban Muvo IRPTN system

[romanSA]

Smart card will get commuters moving
October 28 2011 at 09:57am

Gugu Mbonambi

BUS coupons are soon to be consigned to the past as the eThekwini municipality’s Durban Transport service introduces a smart card system.

Instead of carrying cash, commuters will swipe the Muvo smart card on buses.

The card, which can be loaded with up to R1 500, was launched yesterday.

Mayor James Nxumalo said it was unacceptable that commuters paid R100 for coupons which often expired before they were fully used.

The card system was intended to make public transport more efficient and effective. It would be piloted on People Mover buses early next year before being rolled out to other Durban Transport buses from April.

Nxumalo said that unlike the existing bus coupons, which expired two weeks after being bought, the smart card would be valid for three years. It would eventually be used for all modes of public transport, including trains and taxis.

“In the future, you will also be able to use your smart card to buy groceries and other goods and services at all major retail outlets,” said Nxumalo.

The cards would be available at Sizakala Centres and mobile kiosks, and could be topped up at various locations in the city. Each would have a unique protective chip.

The city plans to have the new system fully operational by 2015

http://www.iol.co.za/mercury/smart-c...ving-1.1166769

[romanSA]

Smartcard: plans to include taxis

28 October 2011 - 09:14
By Thrishni Subramoney

Durban authorities say they are in advanced talks with taxi operators about getting minibuses integrated into the city's future transport plans.

EThekwini Municipality unveiled a new "smartcard" yesterday, which local commuters will be able to use to get around in the next few years.

The city says the "Muvo" card will be introduced next year, and will cost around R50.

Commuters will be able to load money onto it to pay for trips on People Movers and Durban Transport buses.

There will be special discounts for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Durban Transport Head, Thami Manyathi, says they are in talks with the Passenger Rail Agency of SA and minibus taxi operators to get them onto the system as well.

"The smartcard is the engine for that, because it will ensure that we can integrate various operators. As far as the users of the system are concerned, all they will have to worry about is one card. They can use any mode, starting off with the buses, the trains which are going to be integrated, and in the future even metered taxis. You will be able to pay to use a metered taxi using the muvo card."

http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/...-include-taxis

[dysan1]

Great to see that more is being aired on this now! Great to see integrated systems now!

[dysan1]

This weeks Metro newspaper highlighted that the eThekwini Transport Authority has taken the next step in its IRPTN system with a R240m boost to acquire new buses and upgrade the bus depots around the metro. The city will take delivery of 124 new buses from December 2011 to April 2012 and will replace current buses that do not cater for people with disabilities.

[dysan1]

A website has been launched for the new MuVo card, the card similar to London's Oyster Card for use on all public transport in Durban. www.muvo.co.za

Not much on it so far, but expect more to appear in the build up to the launch mid year

Almex sets e-Ticketing standard in South Africa

- SmartCard Muvo card with EMV contactless presented in Durban

- Key milestone for Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network



Almex Transport South Africa, together with the Standard Bank and the National Department of Transport in South Africa, realises trailblazing e-Ticketing solution based on the EMV contactless system. Within the scope of the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN), the intermodal system will initially be introduced amongst bus operators in metropolitan Durban. In future, passengers throughout South Africa are to be able to use this e-Ticketing standard. In doing so, the state at the southernmost tip of the African continent plans to introduce one of the world’s most modern payment systems for passenger transportation.



The presentation of the SmartCard Muvo card in Durban is an important milestone for the IRPTN project throughout the country. The first SmartCards will be issued starting in February 2012. Buses will simultaneously be equipped with on-board computers and integrated Almex ticket printers from Hoeft & Wessel. In total, more than 600 on-board computers of the type almex.optima have already been delivered. In the opinion of Thomas Wolf, member of the Board of Management of Hoeft & Wessel AG, the project delivers proof of the high-tech expertise of this IT specialist: “We are honoured by the trust and confidence of our South African customers. It shows once again that we, as a German SME, are also able to set standards on an international scale as far as technology and quality are concerned.”



Muvo and the IRPTN use the EMV contactless payment functionality for the SmartCard. The card is issued by MasterCard and provides a contactless payment function known as PayPass. This also makes the system suitable for contactless credit cards from the outset for passengers travelling on buses. The Muvo card is topped up like an electronic wallet or purse at special recharge terminals. Next, all a passenger needs to do is hold up the card in front of the scanning device, and his or her ticket is immediately registered and paid.



Not only does the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) of the metropolitan region around Durban make commuting with Muvo attractive by introducing innovative payment methods; it also results in the creation of a dense network of ticket points of sale, intensive public relations work and advisory services to passengers on site by service personnel such as the Muvo card ambassadors.



In doing so, the ETA wants to position Durban as the world’s leading location for modern e-Ticketing solutions. “Durban joins a number of other cities around the world that are using automatic fare payment systems, such as Curitiba, Singapore and Bogota. We are proud to see our city ranking among major cities around the world in this initiative,” explains ETA Head Thami Manyathi.

[dysan1]

Great document on the roll out, stations, routes and costs of the new system for Durban.

http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct...XXGPzTj3Je5f6A

I have included some of the key charts here.

[SA BOY]

love the marketing documents above with spellcheck still on, very slick

[signol]

How much market is there in Hillcrest - Chatsworth? Surely there would be more traffic Hillcrest - Pinetown - Westville - CBD - Umhlanga.

Also look how shamelessly they took photos from the web of the various modes:
Train: Dubai
Intensive BRT: looks like Tehran to me
BRT: Curitiba
Bus: Somewhere in UK...

signol

[dysan1]

If you read the entire report instead of attacking bits and pieces it would all make sense! The routes have been planned heavy traffic and people movement modelling in terms of the routes most travelled for people during the key rush periods.

Secondly, they are showing images of wwhat those types of transport are based on other markets - they do not exist in SA properly yet, and as it is a report aimed at taking learnings and best practice from other markets, why should they not be showing what is out there?

To complain for complaining sake achieves nothing. If youi have fundamental concerns with the routes, or modes they are settling on, raise that as your concerns, but please do after reading the full report and the others in this thread.

[Lydon]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

love the marketing documents above with spellcheck still on, very slick

[ToxicBunny]

This could be very useful...

Depending on WHERE in Pinetown they plan on having the route terminate this could end up saving me a boat load of money, because I would MUCH rather take Public Transport to work than use my car tbh.... it would be 45 mins - 1hr where I could chill out, read a book or whatever..

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

love the marketing documents above with spellcheck still on, very slick

i cant see what you refer to

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by ToxicBunny

This could be very useful...

Depending on WHERE in Pinetown they plan on having the route terminate this could end up saving me a boat load of money, because I would MUCH rather take Public Transport to work than use my car tbh.... it would be 45 mins - 1hr where I could chill out, read a book or whatever..

read the doc. these are the Trunk routes. on top of this there will tones more feeder routes that go deeper into the areas on a local level.

[ToxicBunny]

I did read the doc.... but its obviously a bit sparse on actual locational data...

But yes, I did get that these would be Trunk routes.. would just be nice if the Trunk is relatively near my house, then I could walk in the morning (any exercise is good)....

[dysan1]

you're in glenwood right? the main trunk is likely to go up the N3 or Berea Rd. if you close to that then a walkie could be on the cards, otherwise might need to take the feeders, which i agree the detail on is currently sparse.

[ToxicBunny]

Originally Posted by dysan1

you're in glenwood right? the main trunk is likely to go up the N3 or Berea Rd. if you close to that then a walkie could be on the cards, otherwise might need to take the feeders, which i agree the detail on is currently sparse.

Nah, not anymore.. I'm slumming it in The Pines now (Pinetown)....

I can think of 2 or 3 locations where the Trunk would terminate.. within walking distance, and also not within walking distance....

I spose time will tell in terms of the Park and Ride facilities, because I think ultimately those are what I will have to make use of, but I'm more than willing to do so just to get the please of sitting down and relaxing for the commute to work.

[dysan1]

It will most probably be at a intermodal transit point. So rail and taxis too... Anywhere like that exist in PTN?

[ToxicBunny]

Sort of... but its not somewhere that I would put a Trunk bus line...

The Railway station and Taxi rank are roughly in the same area here :
http://maps.google.co.za/maps?q=pine...,0.016512&z=17

[dysan1]

The following is from Durban's Municipal Institute of Learning. Gives good news on the stage we are at for IRPTN roll out.


Exciting and Innovative Integrated Public Transport in the spotlight

5/23/2012

Thami Manyathi, Head of eThekwini’s Transportation Authority (ETA) shared the City’s vision of a more accessible, safe, effective and integrated public transport system at MILE’s fourth Built Environment Seminar Series, hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) at the Durban Botanic Gardens on 23rd May 2012.

In an informative and refreshing presentation, he announced that R2,4bn has been made available to get eThekwini’s Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network programme (IRPTN) kick started. He explained that the planning has now been completed and outlined the series of phased integrated corridors, the first of which will be in operation by 2016.

“In order for the IRPTN plan to be successful other sectors within the City have to be incorporated. The more sectors that contribute to the programme the sooner the transport system will be complete. We need to put more investment into improving public transport which will also work to enhance the environment and the City at large,” said Manyathi.

Manyathi stressed the partnership that ETA has with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) that have prioritised eThekwini to ensure that an integrated road and rail system is delivered, including other elements such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT), fare and revenue collection systems and the associated buildings.

The innovative MUVO smartcard and smart vans are set to be implemented in June 2012. The Brand Ambassadors for these initiatives, who will be encouraging the community to join MUVO, are drawn from Durban’s universities.

During the vibrant discussions facilitated by Glen Robbins from UKZN’s School of Development Studies, very interesting issues were raised. Some of these included the need for even greater civil society engagement for successful implementation of the IRPTN, ensuring that transportation engineering and land-use planning considerations are integrated, rethinking government and the private sector’s car allowance subsidies and incentives that promote private car usage. Other important issues raised was the need to continue the good relationship that the eThekwini Municipality has with PRASA to ensure integrated rail design systems and to explore what planning instruments are needed in order to guarantee that residential developments are of optimal densities to promote a better urban form. Universal access to public transportation that meets the requirements of the special needs of differently-abled people was also high on the discussion agenda.

Finally the area of affordable pricing of public transport, including cross subsidisation from single occupancy vehicles towards those using the public transport system was another key talking point.

Participants who engaged in the discussion session were equally impressed and eager to help implement the IRPTN. Beryl Khanyile from the eThekwini Municipality’s Housing Unit commented on the IRTPN from a housing perspective. She said, “The IRTPN is responding to the existing gaps in an attempt to focus on sustainable human settlements in economic activity.”

Durban University of Technology, Town Planning student, Siyanda Ngcobo was inspired by the presentation. “The presentation was quite useful in terms of giving us an indication of what is to be expected in the transportation sector. We as planners need to find new ideas to work around the transport systems in order to improve our City’s physical appearance, while conserving the environment at the same time,” remarked Ngcobo.

Download the IRPTN presentation by the Head of the ETA below:

http://www.mile.org.za/QuickLinks/Ne...esentation.pdf

Also you might find the below link to a video about the Bogota Public Transit System interesting as suggested by Glen Robbins:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRGoketbIZE


http://www.mile.org.za/QuickLinks/Ne..._20120523.aspx

[dysan1]

please look at the document to download above... the latest detail on the system and seems things are progressing well