April 30, 2002
By Lucille Davie
GOOD progress has been made in establishing alternative routes for the Gautrain route between Johannesburg and Pretoria, in a series of public meetings held in April.
"We are encouraged by the constructive and co-operative way in which the meetings were conducted. People are prepared to work together to find solutions to issues raised," says Jeremy Boswell, managing director of Bohlweki Environmental, the environmental consultancy appointed to undertake the environmental impact assessment for the Gautrain project.
The 80-kilometre track will link Johannesburg, Pretoria and the Johannesburg International Airport. It is to be built at a cost of R7-billion and it is hoped that some 42 000 jobs will be created indirectly, with around 43 000 jobs created during construction. It is believed that it will relieve the freeway congestion between Johannesburg and Pretoria, which sees 300 000 people travelling the road each week.
It is estimated that some 650 houses will have to be expropriated in Johannesburg's northern suburbs to make way for the train, although 14 kilometres of the route will be underground.
The alternative route suggestions have been forwarded to the Gautrain project leader and head of the Gauteng Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works, Jack van der Merwe, who said that he is "seriously looking at alternative route alignments" as suggested by the affected communities.
Van der Merwe assures these affected parties that the province "is committed to the finalisation of a route that will have to be technically and financially feasible by seriously taking into consideration the socio-economic dynamics of communities".
A contentious issue is whether a public accustomed to travelling by road will make the switch to rail in large enough numbers to make the 'Gautrain' viable. The planners say the project will be viable only if one fifth of Pretoria-Johannesburg commuters make the switch, giving the train 60 000 passengers a day.
It is expected that work on the track's construction will start in mid-2003 and the first passengers should step aboard the train in 2006.
Boswell emphasised that members of the public can still voice objections and questions in a series of meetings to be held until July. An issues report will be made available during May for the public to check whether their concerns have been correctly captured.
Concerned people can go to the website or e-mail Bohlweki at bohlweki@pixie.co.za, or telephone 011 805 0250 or fax 011 805 0226, to voice further concerns, or to register as affected parties.
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