SSI has developed an integrated planning and decision support system to assist transport planning authorities with their legal obligations in terms of the National Land Transport Transition. Our Public Transport Information Management System (PTMIS) is a user friendly, menu-driven information system, where all public transport demand and supply data is recorded, for easy and quick access by planners and managers.
The system is GIS-based and provides summary output in terms of maps, graphs and tables that are required for Current Public Transport Records and developing Public Transport Plans. PTMIS has been successfully implemented for the Tshwane and Ethekwini metropolitan municipalities, as well as for the Bojanala District Municipality in the North West province and the Northern Cape Province. The system is continuously updated to increase its functionality. Sophisticated queries can be performed to display selected information by mode, corridor, and route. External files containing documents, such as the ITP or IDP of a city, spread sheets and photos can be linked to PTMIS.
Public Transport Life-Cycle Support
SSI’s transportation engineers are intensively involved in the full life cycle process of public transport in all the various regions and metropolitan areas in the country, including:
development of public transport policies and plans, forming part of Integrated Transport Plans (ITPs)
computer simulation of public transport to test and optimise public transport plans and route networks
planning and designing public transport facilities and modal transfer stations
public transport contract design and service specifications
scheduling of services and human resources and development of fare structures
tendering to procure services of public transport operators
facilitating finance from international aid agencies and through mechanisms such as Public Private Partnerships
monitoring of public transport services in terms of contracts
We have specialist expertise covering all public transport modes, i.e. heavy and light rail, bus, mini-bus taxi, and non-motorised transport. Through our international partners, DHV and Delcan, we have access to international best practice, expertise on modern public transport systems, and the application of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to public transport.
PROJECTS
Our main public transport projects include:
Development of a national rail passenger master plan for the SARCC and DOT. The purpose of the master plan is to turn-around the passenger rail industry and motivating additional funding from government for passenger rail.
Planning and designing the Denneboom Public Transport Interchange, and developing the master plan for the Mabopane Public Transport Interchange for the City of Tshwane.
Route feasibility studies for 120 independent bus operators in the Eastern Cape for the Eastern Cape DOT, as well as the preparation of tender documents for the provision of public transport services.
Biography
Dr NJW (Klaas) van Zyl is a Principal Specialist at SSI and has been Manager of the Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering Unit in the Pretoria office since 1996. Klaas played a leading role in numerous public transport projects. He is the project manager for the Stewart Scott Consortium on the development of a national rail passenger plan for the SARCC and DOT. He provided the technical specifications for Stewart Scott’s public transport management information system (PTMIS). Klaas is a specialist in stated preference (SP) models and he developed the SP mode choice models for Ethekwini and Cape Town as part of their public transport fundamental restructuring processes. He also developed the mode choice sub-models for the Gauteng and Tshwane strategic planning models. Some of the public transport plans he was involved in are:
Tshwane Ring Rail Project, the Mabopane Centurion Development Corridor, Bojanala District Municipality in North West province, and four districts in the Northern Cape.
