PUBLIC TRANSPORT BACKLOGS
Cash boost for cities on the move will drive public transport
Inadequate public transport infrastructure is holding back economic growth in major cities
A lack of funds is seriously affecting the capacity of cities to carry out the much needed expansion and improvement of their public transport networks. A study by the Financial and Fiscal Commission found that generating other revenue could help cities cover the shortfall preventing the effective roll-out of public transport services. Inadequate public transport infrastructure is holding back economic growth in major cities. Research shows that transport backlogs cost SA between 4% and 5% in GDP annually. It makes transport inordinately expensive for poorer families — more than 60% of households earning less than R500 a month spend more than 20% of household income on public transport. The 4% of own revenue that cities are required to set aside for an integrated transport network is not enough to tackle the backlogs, let alone expand the urban network. Transport policy dictates that every municipality establishing an integrated public transport network must set up a Land Transport ...
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