Identifying policies and legislative frameworks to create integrated innovative public transport in Gauteng province

Abstract

Abstract: Urban Public Transport (UPT) plays a very imperative role in a society, it allows people to access different locations easily. Good urban public transport services attract more users reducing private vehicle on the roads and creating an environment with less gas emission produced. Key instruments used globally for good public transport service are policies and legislative frameworks. In South Africa, all three spheres of government National, Provincial and Local have implemented good urban public transport systems. However, in all the three spheres of government, there seems to be lack of connectivity of different systems of innovative urban public transport (BRT system and Gautrain system). Therefore, this paper aims to identify policies and legislative frameworks put in place to integrate innovative urban public transport in Gauteng province and what strategies can be implemented from these documents. The study adopted qualitative research approach were literature of previous documented studies, urban public transport drafted policies and legislative framework documents in South Africa, and interviews conducted with urban public transport officials. The results revealed that there are policies and legislative frameworks implemented, however, it is difficult to practice the strategies and ideas documented as these systems are owned by different entities. The study concluded that the provincial government need to identify ways of strengthening the available policies and legislative frameworks to integrate the different innovative public transport systems, by doing so, a common ground could be identified for integration leading to convenient public transport creating seamless travelling in the province. The study recommends that policies and legislative frameworks used in developed countries with good integrated urban public transport should be adopted and practiced in Gauteng province