South African Companies Design 2nd Generation Public Transport Contracts for Kigali
South African companies Organisation Development Africa (ODA), Transport Economic & Support Services (TESS) and GoMetro played a central role in the design of 2nd generation public transport contracts for the city of Kigali Rwanda. The SA companies are part of a consortium led by Swiss -based Transport Engineering firm Transitec.
The Rwandan Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) introduced the first formal public transport contracts in Kigali in 2013. Prior to 2013 paratransit operators provided a typical unregulated form of public transport marred by overcrowding, high accident rates and destructive competition. The 2013 contracting model was based on a gradual progression from a typical paratransit supply model to a more formal public transport system. The 2013 contracts introduced contract zones, a cashless fare system and required operators to introduce higher occupancy vehicles.
The Request for Proposals for 2nd generation contracts was issued on 16 October 2019 and contracts will be awarded on 31 January 2020.
According to ODA Managing Director, Nico Mc Lachlan, these contracts, planned to take effect on 1 May 2020, will see the introduction of a time table- based (scheduled services) model, new fleet mix specifications designed to serve the specific requirements of each of the new contract zones, the introduction of Euro 4 emission standards and universal branding.
A series of low cost / high impact improvements to the traffic management system has been prepared by consortium leader Transitec and it is anticipated that once implemented these measures could significantly improve the commercial speed of the public transport system.
The Government of Rwanda is to be commended for following a systemic path of improving the total public transport system in a planned and coordinated manner. 2nd Generation contracts are planned to end in 2025 and it is anticipated that 3rd generation contracts could see the introduction of some mass rapid transit corridors, a further shift towards green energy vehicles and increased competition for a share in the Kigali public transport system.
The improvement of the public transport model for Kigali is a project jointly managed by the Ministry of Infrastructure (MINIFRA), The Rwandan Transport and Development Agency (RTDA), the City of Kigali and the Rwandan Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) .
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