The Mayoral Committee of Cape Town, this week, put forth a recommendation for the extension of the operating contract of the MyCiti N2 Express bus service for an additional two years, aiming for a new end date of 30 June 2026.
City of Cape Town recommends extension of N2 Express bus service
In a statement, the City’s media office explained this decision was driven by the need to ensure the ongoing operation of the bus service connecting Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha with the Civic Centre station.
The extension is seen as a critical measure to maintain reliable and efficient public transport options for the communities until the anticipated completion of the second phase of the MyCiTi bus service, which will expand the network to Wynberg and Claremont.
The proposal by the Mayoral Committee is set to be reviewed by the City’s Supply Chain Management Bid Adjudication Committee in March 2024 for final approval.
Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, highlighted the critical role of the N2 Express service in providing a dependable and economical transportation alternative, especially in light of the challenges facing the passenger rail system over the past decade.
“Thousands of commuters from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha rely on the N2 Express to travel to the CBD. Given the implosion of passenger rail over the last decade, it is even more important that we provide commuters with a scheduled and affordable alternative,” he said.
Quintas expressed gratitude towards the committee’s endorsement of the extension, emphasising the significance of the service for thousands of commuters relying on it for daily travel to the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD).
“The intention is to keep this service operating while we are busy building the infrastructure for the implementation of Phase 2A of the MyCiTi bus service that will connect the metro-southeast with Wynberg and Claremont. If all goes as planned, some of the routes will be operational by 2026,” Rob Quintas added.
What routes does the bus service?
The N2 Express bus service encompasses four main routes designed to cater to a wide range of commuters.
Two of these routes originate from Kuyasa, serving residents of both Khayelitsha East and West, while the remaining two routes start from the Mitchells Plain Town Centre and Kapteinsklip, respectively.
These buses navigate through the N2 highway, facilitating direct and efficient travel to and from the Cape Town CBD.
The service layout is strategically planned to address the mobility needs of communities in Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, offering a vital link to the city’s economic and administrative hub.