Transport MEC announces opening date for the N2 BMT lane

By Rhodé Marshall
01 August 2007

On Tuesday August 7th, the long awaited bus and minibus taxi (BMT) lane will be opened.

Thousands of early morning commuters, who travel to work along the N2 between Botcherds Quarry and the M5, will be pleased to know that they will arrive at work at least 29 minutes earlier.

“Our research indicates although those using the public transport will arrive earlier, those with private vehicles will spend an additional 11 minutes on the road,” says the MEC for Transport Marius Fransman.

He added that the new lane forms part of a broader plan by the Western Cape Transport Department and the City of Cape Town to encourage commuters to make use of public transport.

“We have pumped R300-million into this project therefore the security on the road is of high importance to us,” says Fransman.

He says that cable theft is rife in the area and this has encouraged the department to do whatever is necessary to ensure that a comprehensive security plan is implemented.

“In peak hours there are about 17 500 commuters on the N2, so this lane should ensure smooth traffic on a road that has always been highly congested,” says Spokesperson of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Dougie Oakes.

The road will operate in the mornings between 5:30am and 9:00am and only public transport vehicles will be considered to travel there legally. However, all other vehicles may use the road outside the allocated peak period.

“The driver of any other vehicle caught on the BMT lane will be fined R500, and a number of high technology cameras has been set up to monitor this,” says Oaks.