​By King Mthombeni
Titled "Growing Gauteng through Smart Mobility" the Provincial Smart Mobility 2030 Plan strategy takes advantage of the province's current standing as a gateway to Africa and positions it as the freight and logistics hub. 
Launched by MEC Jacob Mamabolo, the plan serves as a roadmap aimed at addressing the city region's transport challenges.  
The plan is anchored around three strategic focus areas, namely Infrastructure, Operations and Institutions. These are underpinned by technology and green transport, which includes non-motorised transport. 
Amongst the key strategic objectives of the plan is to position Gauteng as a freight and logistics hub. This will be achieved through the establishment of an intelligent freight network supported by efficient freight and logistics handling capacity as well as the introduction of data-centric mobility.
"We should improve capacity, firstly to move freight back to rail and secondly to use technology to manage the movement of trucks to the ports and back. The plan also highlights the need to build strong institutions that will support its implementation over the next 10 years," remarked MEC Mamabolo. 
Other key projects include the following:
Expanding the road network to connect new nodes and improve efficiencies in the movement of people and goods. These should be equipped with intelligent transport systems, integrated into other systems forming smart city;
Mapping and digitising all minibus taxi routes, digitize and create a hierarchy of existing formal and informal mini-bus taxi intermodal facilities;
Assessing the existing infrastructure and develop typical standard architecture and layouts for minibus taxi facilities to be used throughout the province;
Promoting transit-oriented development to decrease the distance people travel to places of work, leisure, education and home; 
Expedite the expansion of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link to ease congestion and provide a safe, efficient and rapid public transport service;
Integrating Gautrain with other modes of transport and introduction of an Integrated Fare Management system; as well as 
Infrastructure improvement to improve efficiencies in movement of freight and reduction of congestion. This will done through a dedicated freight road and a rail bypass on the periphery of the province and support new intermodal terminals developed by Transnet.