Name and Location
Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) project, North West, South Africa.

Client
The municipality of Rustenburg.

Project Description
The project aims to introduce a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Rustenburg, in the North West, similar to the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system operational in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

Current plans envision, 37 stations that will be operated along 40 km of road, using 100 articulated buses to transport passengers along the main corridors. The system will also include direct and feeder-and-distribution bus systems that will link with the RRT trunk roads along the R510 and R565 roads into the city centre. A fare system will be integrated, with the same pay-as-you-go smart card allowed on all routes and services.

Value
A budget of more than R3-billion has been set aside by the Department of Transport (DoT).

Duration
Construction was scheduled to start in 2012 and bus procurement in 2013, with the first services to be delivered in 2015. Based on current estimates, the system is scheduled to serve 200 000 passengers a day, starting in 2015.

Latest Developments
Consulting engineering company SMEC South Africa, formerly Vela VKE, has entered into a joint venture (JV) with UWP Consulting Engineers and Phatwe Consulting Engineers for the RRT system and construction completion is expected in 2015.

The JV has been awarded contract A of the RRT project, which involves the development of a public transport route that connects the Rustenburg central business district (CBD) with Phokeng and areas to the north, reaching well into the Moses Kotane local municipality.

The JV is fast-tracking Phase 1, located just outside the CBD. It is a 5 km section of roadway that is currently under construction and is about 20% complete.

Work on Phase 1 of the North West Corridor started in June 2012. Construction will take 15 months and the estimated completion date of Phase 1 is October 2013.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
The Rustenburg Integrated Network joint venture (feasibility study) and SMEC South Africa/UWP/Phatwe JV (contract A - development of a public transport route).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
RTT communications manager Sara Butchart, email sara@rustenburgrapidtransport.co.za.
SMEC South Africa, tel +27 014 592 2834, fax +27 014 592 5480 or email rustenburg@smec.com.
UWP Consulting Engineers, tel +27 14 597 1223 or email friedrichs@uwp.co.za.
Phatwe Consulting Engineers, Peter Mashaba, tel +27 14 594 2912, fax +27 14 597 0758 or email mashaba.phatwe@telkomsa.net.