Examining the Role of Public Transport Interchange Hubs in Supportive Public Transport Integration in City of Johannesburg

The focus on developing integrated urban public transport systems have become major priorities globally, particularly in developed and transitional economies in order to achieve effective mobility. Similarly, increasing the connectedness and efficiency of urban public transport modes has become a necessity within cities of developing countries. Subsequently, the City of Johannesburg formulated relevant policies, strategies and frameworks that seek to inform the development and operation of efficient and integrated urban public transport systems. Thus, interchange hubs are starting points of public transportation ride and the first points of interaction commuters have with the available service. Subsequently, this study aims to eximine the role of public transport interchange hubs in supportive of integration between Gautrain and Rea Vaya BRT operations in Johannesburg metropolitan city, using a phenomelogical case study survey design and mixed methods approaches consisting of spatial, quantitative and qualitiative data. The exploratory approach was used to formulate the research problem for comprehensive investigation, whereas descriptive approach was used to gather broad and accurate information. Research techniques such as social media, crowd-sourcing, and interviews were used to collected data. Whilst data analysis and interpretations were conducted with techniques such as Echo-Echo, main content analysis, Geographic Information Technologies.This study presents novel data analysed into empirical results suggesting that public transport interchange hubs plays a pivotial influence in supportive the integration of Gautrain and Rea Vaya operations in city of Johannesburg. The findings further reveal the complexity of spatial and commucative platforms in multiplicity of urban public transport modes resulting in complex models of urban public transport operations.