At the 43rd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC 2025), Zutari’s presence extended beyond the presentations by several of our exceptional talent. A standout paper, “Development of a Bus Shelter Warrant and Prioritisation, Towards Enhanced Resource Utilisation and Passenger Experience: Go George Bus Service,” claimed the Best Practical Paper Award.
For the author, Armandt van Straten, a traffic engineer involved in the operational planning of the GO GEORGE service, the recognition was both an honour and a surprise. “Personally, it was unexpected, but incredibly meaningful. Professionally, it’s an opportunity to show what’s possible when we use data smartly to solve real challenges in public transport.”
This year’s SATC theme, “Mobility Solutions to Southern African Challenges,” framed the ideal context for the paper’s contribution. Armandt’s research tackled a reality many cities face: while every bus stop should ideally offer shelter, limited budgets and physical constraints make this unattainable. The solution? A data-driven model that identifies which stops need shelters most, maximising impact, optimising resources, and improving the passenger experience where it matters most.
The initial intent was to develop a tool to streamline internal planning workflows. However, as the idea evolved, the team recognised a broader gap in public transport planning, specifically, the absence of formal guidance on infrastructure elements like bus shelters.
“Public Transport plays a crucial role in social equity and sustainable urban development. Public Transport planning is thus essential, with the placement of shelters at bus stops being a key aspect. With that in mind, we set out to build a model that would help in the planning of shelter placement with the aim to optimise resource allocation while also enhancing passenger comfort and dignity.”
GO GEORGE adopts an “infrastructure-light” philosophy, delivering reliable transport services with minimal permanent infrastructure. In such settings, deciding where to place shelters, especially under financial constraints, posed a real challenge. Historically, shelters were installed based on observational judgment. The new model introduced a more systematic approach.
The model’s approach relies on a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), a long-standing technique in cost-benefit and planning studies. The innovation lies in adapting the MCA to the shelter prioritisation problem using real operational data. “It’s not a new methodology, but a smart application of a known method made powerful through the use of accurate, context-specific data.”
The shelter warrant and prioritisation system empower transit planners to:
- Pinpoint high-priority stops for shelter installation.
- Determine the appropriate shelter size for each stop.
- Allocate funding efficiently and transparently.
- Improve the overall passenger experience.
Among various inputs, the MCA framework proved to be the analytical backbone, helping prioritise shelters based on factors like stop usage, surrounding infrastructure, and passenger vulnerability. Early implementation of the model in GO GEORGE’s upgrade planning has shown tangible benefits. The system successfully identified stops already covered, validated needs at currently unsheltered stops, and enabled precise budget allocation for shelter upgrades.
“Decision-makers found it useful, especially as it provided a transparent, justifiable rationale for each shelter decision. But they also know not to follow the model blindly, contextual interpretation still matters.”
Plans are already underway to expand the model’s capabilities. Future iterations may include prioritisation for other infrastructure elements like benches, lighting, and CCTV cameras, further enhancing the passenger experience.
“The ultimate goal is equitable, efficient, and context-sensitive public transport planning, led by data.”
In the Southern African context, where infrastructure projects must navigate diverse social needs, funding gaps, and urban constraints, the model represents an innovative, locally adapted solution. Well-suited for replication in other Southern African cities that face similar resource constraints. However, its success hinges on one crucial factor: reliable data collection and management. Without accurate and structured data, the model can’t deliver useful outputs. That’s why a robust data ecosystem is key to applying this approach elsewhere.
For Armandt van Straten, this work reflects a larger passion for people-centred mobility solutions. He expresses that “South Africa and similar regions face many transport challenges. But we also have unique opportunities to find innovative, meaningful solutions that work for our context.”
Armandt van Straten’s research recognition at the 43rd Southern African Transport Conference is well earned. As the model evolves to include more infrastructure, it aims to improve accessibility and safety, supporting sustainable urban growth. Its success highlights the importance of reliable data, locally adapted strategies to develop practical, impactful future transport solutions.
