Limpopo Business 2017-18 edition

MESSAGE
Efficient, reliable, secure public
transport
A message from the Executive Mayor of Polokwane Local Municipality,
Councillor Thembisile Nkadimeng.
Thembisile Nkadimeng,
Executive Mayor
The Municipality of Polokwane
welcomes the introduction of
Leeto la Polokwane which is set
to provide our residents with
much improved public transport
and stimulate the local economy.
Leeto la Polokwane, which means “Our journey”, will provide
an efficient, reliable, secure, cost-effective public transport service
that reduces congestion on public roads, protects the environment
and connects people to daily life. It will also spur economic growth
through sustainable job creation and the facilitation of seamless
trade and business.
Investment in transport infrastructure leads to job creation and
skills transfer while reducing travel times for people to acquire
goods and services. Moreover, the project also provides valuable
public health benefits by reducing road fatalities, crashes and injuries;
reducing personal exposure to harmful air pollutants and increasing
physical activity for users. Such improvements will have a positive
impact in promoting local businesses and stimulating investments
within Polokwane.
The service is initially slated to run from the Central Business District,
past Seshego and into Moletjie. Already, 2.5km of Dedicated Lanes
towards Seshego township have been completed, with a further 1.5km
under construction. This will culminate in 50km of road construction
for trunk and feeder routes.
Moreover, there have also been trunk extension rehabilitation
and upgrades – 13.8km completed with 32.6km in the CBD. To date,
12.8km of roads falling under the national Department of Transport
have been completed, with 24.8km from partnerships with other
grant providers. They cater for pedestrians and cyclists though the
provision of sidewalks, cross walks, paths and cycle lanes.
Special needs facilities including tactile paving for the blind, boarding
bridges to ensure level boarding between the stops, stations and
buses and easy-to-use pedestrian and passenger information signage
have been put in place.
The target for having the first buses rolling is 2018. We are reaching
out to the community to make them aware of Leeto la Polokwane.
We are engaging in a number of stakeholder engagement sessions,
community outreach events, media events and door-to-door
interactions to share progress with the communities we serve
and to receive feedback. We are also active on the various social
media platforms.
LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2017/18
14