Abstract
Public transport infrastructure investments have been widely advocated for as catalysts for economic growth and development. They have also been regarded as pivots of functionality of economic nodes and communities. Thus, considerations of innovative strategies in investing in public transport infrastructure as contributors of socio-economic transformation through facilitating the growth of business operations and the creation of small-scale entrepreneurship has gained momentum. The common envisaged outcome of such innovative approaches is creation of vibrant urban centers and economic spaces characterized by a variety of social and economic activities. In the same vein, this paper investigated the impact of implementation of innovative urban public transport systems on business operations and formation of new small-scale businesses within the City of Tshwane. The study adopted mixed research approaches where qualitative and quantitative data were gathered concurrently. Field observations, key informant interviews, questionnaire administration were used for data collection. Subsequently, content data analysis was applied through the exploration of findings under various relevant themes of public transport infrastructure and business operations. Findings reveal limited improvement on business operations or formations, especially integration of previously disadvantaged communities and informal traders to the local economy. Even for few opportunities created, limited entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and expertise amongst people previously systematically excluded restrained them from taking advantage of such opportunities. Skewed focus on public transport infrastructure roll-out coupled with limited practical focus on trickle down effects as socio-economic benefits was observed as another obstacle hindering creation of vibrant socio-economic spaces through public transport infrastructure investments. Thus, the work recommends the creation of activity nodes for social and economic interactions at connector points to the benefit of local economy and residents. To complement such, human capacity development and entrepreneurial skills development amongst the previously disadvantaged group is advocated to attain socio-economic transformation.