1. How can rail infrastructure be better utilised to reshape and transform our urban spaces: Land development perspective
Thamsanqa Hlongwane Pr.Pln
09 July 2018
Southern African Transport Conference

2. Establishing a correlation
1. Can efficient PT/rail system encourage spatial transformation?
2. Can Land development around station nodes promote sustainable development and encourage spatial transformation?
3. Can Land reform accelerate spatial transformation in urban areas?
Rail Infrastructure:
Stations
Land
Railways
Land reform as a verb:
involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding : -
Transformation of land ownership patterns through various instruments – e.g expropriation etc
- Should promote access to various securities of tenure

3. Context Opportunities Challenges
Majority of these locations are connected by rail infrastructure
Rail still hold a significant public transport market share
Reinvestment in rail infrastructure and initiatives to improve services underway
New approach to precinct planning
Land assembly opportunities
Private sector has appetite for risk
Challenges
The majority of poor urban residents live in peripheral locations – persisting legacy of apartheid spatial planning
Increasing housing backlog due to increasing urbanisation
Low Densities vehicle (taxis) oriented settlements – 1 house per erf
Urban sprawl: compounded by the adoption of dominant road and highways – sprawling middle class suburbia

4. 1. Role of the Rail in spatial transformation
Rail transport infrastructure cannot be viewed in isolation of the urban spatial environment in which it exists
rail system as key spatial restructuring element
A viable mode of mass public transport i.e. backbone of public transport
Key to urban policy implementation i.e. sustainable cities, TODs, densification, compactness
A rail response requires a transformed spatial structure to make an impact
SoCR16
However, SAs Spatial pattern renders public transport systems inefficient and ineffective

5. City wide strategies – for public transport/Land Use VRC - CT
TOD
Opportunities

6. Implement Transit Oriented Developments opportunities
 Securing land in areas of future urban growth for low- and mixed- income and for mixed-use development
Implement Transit Oriented Developments opportunities
Align institutional priorities (SoE, Cities, Funding Institutions)
Avoid gentrification – balance market force with developmental goals
2. Can Land development around station nodes promote spatial transformation
SoCR16
CoCT

7. Precinct planning: increasing densification
VRC
Prasa Land ?
Private property
City land
City Land
Private property

8. Sustainable Housing Solutions Access to public transport
Key Features
Sustainable Housing Solutions
Access to public transport
Reduced parking requirements
Urban Joint Development - MoA
Co-Funding arrangements
Corridor Strategy alignment
Encourage use of public transport
Unlocks alternative revenue
Streams
Secure property rights
Goodwood Station
Park and Ride

9. 3. Can ‘Land Reform’ accelerate spatial transformation

10. “Get the Institutions in order”
Land Transformation
Land Use/Spatial Planning:
Cities
Spatial Transformation
EVERYONE
Rail Transport:
Primary Mandate - PRASA
Secondary
Intersite
What is the role of SoEs in land reform and spatial transformation?
- should e.g. SoE perform part of these duties linked to its functional area?
- Spatial Transformation is everyone's duty – including the private sector and civil society
Prof P. Harrison