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The lurch towards formalisation: Lessons from the implementation of BRT in Johannesburg, South Africa

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  • Venter, Christoffel

Abstract

The City of Johannesburg, South Africa, implemented the first phase of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system named Rea Vaya between 2009 and 2011. The system design and organisational arrangements drew heavily on precedents from South America, especially insofar as BRT is used as an instrument for securing the transformation and formalisation of a fragmented and problematic informal public transport industry. Despite the inevitable transition problems, the formalisation scheme appears to be generally successful – an outcome that surprised many analysts as it follows a long history of mistrust, resistance, and unsuccessful interventions between government and the minibus taxi industry. The paper offers an analysis of the reasons for the successful transformation of participating taxi operators, by using a life-cycle analogy. We argue that the minibus-taxi industry in South Africa has reached a state of stasis and maturity, with limited opportunities for further growth in its present form. BRT, as it is implemented locally, offers opportunities for re-invention – for moving onto new a potential growth trajectory – by overcoming the binding constraints of informality and by opening up new markets to operators. The life-cycle analysis also offers some insights into critical success factors that, if not met in the long run, could jeopardise the longevity and scalability of the formalisation project. The paper concludes with insights regarding the planning and management of BRT systems to maximise their potential for leveraging the formalisation of informal operators, both in South Africa and in other developing countries.

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  • Venter, Christoffel, 2013. "The lurch towards formalisation: Lessons from the implementation of BRT in Johannesburg, South Africa," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 114-120.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:39:y:2013:i:1:p:114-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2012.06.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Walters, Jackie, 2008. "Overview of public transport policy developments in South Africa," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 98-108, January.
    2. Peter Perkins & Johann Fedderke & John Luiz, 2005. "An Analysis Of Economic Infrastructure Investment In South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 73(2), pages 211-228, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Venter, Christoffel, 2016. "Assessing the potential of bus rapid transit-led network restructuring for enhancing affordable access to employment – The case of Johannesburg's Corridors of Freedom," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 441-449.
    2. Poku-Boansi, Michael & Marsden, Greg, 2018. "Bus rapid transit systems as a governance reform project," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 193-202.
    3. Jan Schlüter & Manuel Frewer & Leif Sörensen & Justin Coetzee, 2020. "A stochastic prediction of minibus taxi driver behaviour in South Africa," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Venter, Christoffel J. & Molomo, Malesela & Mashiri, Mac, 2014. "Supply and pricing strategies of informal rural transport providers," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 239-248.
    5. Goedeking, Nicholas, 2024. "Broad support vs. deep opposition: The politics of bus rapid transit in low- and middle-income countries," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 211-223.
    6. Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2020. "Looking for the obvious: motorcycle taxi services in Sub-Saharan African cities," Post-Print halshs-02182855, HAL.
    7. Kerzhner, Tamara, 2022. "Formalization of East Jerusalem public transport: Mobility, politics and planning," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    8. Mokoma, Lesedi & Venter, Christoffel, 2023. "Pathways to integrating paratransit and formal public transport: Case studies from Tshwane, South Africa," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    9. Schalekamp, Herrie, 2017. "Lessons from building paratransit operators’ capacity to be partners in Cape Town’s public transport reform process," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 58-66.
    10. Diaz Olvera, Lourdes & Plat, Didier & Pochet, Pascal, 2020. "Looking for the obvious: Motorcycle taxi services in Sub-Saharan African cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).

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