1www.codatu.org CODATU XII DECENTRALIZED COOPERATION FOR URBAN TRANSPORT: EXPERIENCING DIRECT COOPERATION BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WORLDWIDE 5-7 July 2006 Lyon (France) SESSION 7 Accessibility: the social dimension of sustainable transport TOWARDS INCLUSIVE CITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA Implementation logjams and emerging approaches through cooperation Christo VENTER Associate Professor University of Pretoria

2 Objectives Implementation logjams Logjam examples: Accessible transport Unjamming: Emerging local planning approaches Unjamming: Intergovernmental coordination Conclusions

3 Problem diagnosis Massive policy revamps - sustainability - equity, human rights Accelerating challenges - social upliftment, poverty relief - economic competitiveness - “world stage” issues (2010 World Cup) Institutional mismatch - preoccupation with form, structure Implementation paralysis - policy overload - inability to find common ground among multiple stakeholders

4 Example: Accessible transport National: non-discrimination legislation Technical standards & guidelines e.g. “Enhancing mobility of disabled people” (ORN 21) Disjointed modal initiatives: –Minibus-taxis: 100% government-sponsored fleet renewal – accessible standards or not? Source: SA Fed Council Disability, 2001

5 Example: Accessible transport National: non-discrimination legislation Technical standards & guidelines e.g. “Enhancing mobility of disabled people” (ORN 21) Disjointed modal initiatives: –Commuter/ long distance buses: all new buses at least “Class 1” (ambulatory) accessibility – wheelchair access optional

6 Example: Accessible transport National: non-discrimination legislation Technical standards & guidelines e.g. “Enhancing mobility of disabled people” (ORN 21) Disjointed modal initiatives: –Commuter rail: Ad hoc station improvements

7 Example: Accessible transport National: non-discrimination legislation Technical standards & guidelines e.g. “Enhancing mobility of disabled people” (ORN 21) Disjointed modal initiatives: –Dial-a-Ride: City of Cape Town funding 17-vehicle operation

8 Emerging local planning approach Identification of high priority, strategic public transport networks - Road/rail based, high traffic volumes - All-day, “backbone” service - Partial or complete priority for PT - Supported by feeder networks Incremental implementation - Route by route - Includes pedestrian infrastructure, PT priority, improved vehicle standards, security, enforcement - Creates focus for accessibility improvements -- full access to support entire trip chain

9 Emerging local planning approach Example: Cape Town Key corridors identified in “Mobility Strategy” First corridor for BRT implementation New buses on primary corridors to be low- floor or low-entry articulated Implementation delays due to political problems & lack of coordination

10 Emerging local planning approach Example: Johannesburg Strategic Public Transport Network

11 Emerging local planning approach Figure 4: Example: Soweto-Johannesburg CBD accessible corridor International Sports Complex for the Disabled Dube Station Phefeni Station Phumla Spec School Walter Sisulu Child & Youth Centre New Canada Station Highgate Mall Soweto Workshop for the Blind Coronationville Hospital Coronationville Special Training Centre Helen Joseph Hospital Natl. Council for Persons With Physical Disabilities SA DEAFSA RAU WITS Park Station Ghandi Square Bus terminal CBD Soweto M1 N1 Soweto Highway Roode- poort Rd Accessible Nodes Major Transport Interchanges Provincial Hospitals Priority Origins and Destinations Example: Johannesburg

12 Emerging model for intergovernmental coordination Development & adoption of Gauteng Intergovernmental Transport Charter – high-level agreement of objectives, functions, responsibilities among government entities Key insights: - Success is only achievable through high levels of joint planning & coordination - First need clear identification of functions & responsibilities of various government entities - Then sort out institutional arrangements later (“Form follows function”) - Implementation should be local, unless economies of scale or geographic nature dictates otherwise - Pay attention to political champions

13 Conclusions Mismatch of institutions with functional requirements of delivery is a key constraint to transport improvement Some success achieved in first sorting out function, and then designing form to follow function Incremental planning and deployment of public transport corridors, taking account of –Infrastructure (especially priority for PT) –Operations, regulation & enforcement –Accessible trip chains from origin to destination –Need for officials/implementers to learn as they do

14 Acknowledgments City of Johannesburg, Bob Stanway, Johannesburg News Agency Gauteng Department of Public transport, Roads & Works, Lisa Seftel & Mar Somaru City of Cape Town, Jim Stanbury CSIR