Question 1:
Cape Town’s MyCiTi Spine Road depot construction 65% complete
The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says construction work on two new MyCiTi depots, located on the corner of Spine Road and Mew Way between Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, is now 65% complete.
City officials add that the bus transit project is on track to be concluded by May next year. Construction started in August 2022. Construction was initially delayed by several weeks owing to extortion attempts by the so-called construction mafia, but this lost time has now been made up by the contractor working extended hours and on weekends.
“I am happy to see good progress in the construction of the new MyCiTi depots, which will be at the heart of operations for this big extension of the MyCiTi bus system,” says Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. “The city is working at pace to expand the MyCiTi bus service to the metro-southeast, specifically to Philippi, Mitchells Plain, and Khayelitsha. “Once complete, hundreds of thousands of commuters will have access to safe, reliable, direct public transport along one of the busiest transport routes in the city.
“This project is part of the city’s infrastructure budget directly benefitting lower income households in 2023/24.” The 15-ha city-owned depot site is located near planned new MyCiTi routes, aimed at saving costs and accommodating more bus trips very early in the morning. “The depots will house 290 buses initially, and many more as MyCiTi expands across the city,” notes CoCT Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas.
“The facilities will serve as a base for the MyCiTi service, including administrative offices, boardrooms, training space, facilities for staff and drivers, and security- controlled access on both roads.” The depot project is co-funded by a Dutch government grant.
Work already wrapped up on the project includes the installation of foundation and underground bulk civil engineering services, including electricity, water, plumbing and sewerage services for both depots, as well as external building work, roof sheeting and internal finishes for the east depot.
Work currently under way includes paving the staging area for the east depot, installing a permanent water connection to both depots, and finishing external building work for the west depot. To help combat extortion impacting city construction and service delivery initiatives, Hill-Lewis last year launched an anti- extortion campaign under the slogan Enough! Genoeg! Kwanele! The city has set up a 24-hour toll-free hotline, with cash rewards on offer for tip-offs leading to arrests and prosecution.
Adapted from Venter, I. 2024. Cape Town’s MyCiTi Spine Road depot construction 65% complete [Online] Available at https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/cape–towns-myciti-spine-road- depot-construction-65-complete-2024-03-20 [Accessed 11 February 2025].
- Explain what is meant by demand for bus transport and explain three factors that have an impact on the demand for bus transport considering the above article. (10)
Question 2:
Port and rail services and infrastructure in South Africa have fallen into ruin and disrepair over the past decade as detailed in the article above.
Conduct further research into rail transport and infrastructure in South Africa and compile an essay in which you identify key risks faced in rail transport and suggest some measures to mitigate these risks. Paraphrasing and references are to be included. You will be assessed based on the rubric below.
(Hint: your answer should summarise all key concepts from the relevant chapter with practical application to the scenario provided).
Note:
- You will receive more marks for your own original, detailed real-life examples than for examples in your textbook, from your lecturer, or in the study guide.
- Marks will be allocated according to the rubric below.
A word limit of 1000 words applies. Markers will disregard any text beyond this limit. Please indicate the word count at the end of your answer. NB — Your lecturer will not mark beyond the maximum word count for the question. For example, if you exceed the 1000-word limit by 100, you can lose all marks allocated to any sections/arguments that fall into the 100 words not marked.
You will be assessed based on the rubric below.
Question 3:
Read the extract below and use it to answer questions that follow.
Government to work with transport sector for economic growth. Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a transport ecosystem that is agile, responsive, and adaptable to the evolving needs of society and the changing global landscape. “Transport plays a critical role in shaping the societal, economic, and spatial landscape of our nation. With mandates spanning across rail, road, civil aviation, maritime, public transport, and macro planning, the Department of Transport and its entities hold a significant responsibility in driving forward the country’s developmental agenda,” Chikunga said on Tuesday.
She made these remarks during a strategic workshop for the transport sector, which served as a platform for strategic conversations and dialogue, fostering a shared understanding of mandates and a unified vision for the transport portfolio. “From roads and highways to railways, airports, and seaports, a well-established transportation network not only facilitates the movement of goods and people but also acts as a catalyst for economic development.
“It is imperative that policymakers, businesses, and communities work together to prioritise sustainable infrastructure development that meets the needs of present and future generations. Only through concerted efforts can we build a transport infrastructure that drives inclusive and sustainable development for all,” Chikunga said.
The Minister outlined key priorities essential for driving the transport sector forward.
These priorities, spanning various facets of transport infrastructure and operations, underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility within the transport ecosystem.
She reiterated the importance of revitalising rail infrastructure and operations. Key priorities in this domain include the recovery of rail major corridors, signalling system, implementation of the station modernisation programme, and expansion and modernisation of rolling stock.
“The recently launched National Rail Policy underscores the necessity for collaborative efforts aimed at fostering transformation and ensuring fair competition within the sector,” she said.
The Minister stressed the importance of finalising key policies such as the Roads Funding Policy and the Public Transport Subsidy Policy.
This being the last strategic workshop for the transport sector in the sixth administration, the workshop undertook a robust review of the mandate analysis of the Department and its entities, review of its achievements in the current term, analysis of the legislative frameworks and the need for its modernisation as well as building of institutional capacity, governance and leadership.
The Minister underscored the importance of transitioning towards greener transport solutions.
Priorities in this domain include developing the Transport Just Transition plan, raising public awareness on the Electric Vehicles (EV) Regulatory Framework, and collaborating with the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) on implementing the Green Transport Strategy. – SAnews.gov.za
Referring to the above article on how South Africa’s government plans to work with the transport sector, answer the following question. Use this article, your prescribed textbook, and the internet to support your answers. Remember to cite your references in-text and in your reference list.
- Describe the role of transportation planners in fostering an agile and responsive transport ecosystem, as highlighted by Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga (1). Identify and describe at least three of the responsibilities transportation planners have in contributing to addressing the evolving needs of society and the changing landscape of South Africa (9)? (10)
- Analyse the role of transportation planners in optimising freight transportation modes, particularly focusing on road and rail transport, in South Africa. (15)
Question 4: Discuss any five key security challenges associated with technology in the transportation sector. (15)
Answers to Above Questions on Transport Economics
Answer 1: Demand for bus transport is defined as the number of people who are willing to use bus services at a given time and price.
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