NIMBYism and the transport vision
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Transcript of NIMBYism and the transport vision
NIMBYism and the transport vision
Councillor Brett Herron,
Mayoral Committee Member:
Transport for Cape Town
July 2016
Southern African Transport Conference
Cape Town’s transport vision
• Priority for public transport
• Integration between modes
• Reducing the cost of the user access priority
About MyCiTi
• Launched in 2010 for Soccer World Cup
About MyCiTi
• First commuter services in 2011
About MyCiTi
• Combination of BRT with dedicated lanes and closed stations, and buses
operating in mixed traffic with kerbside stops
• 42 closed stations
• 350 pairs of stops
About MyCiTi
• 44 routes
• 40 million + passenger
journeys to date
• In July 2013 – 283 048
passenger journeys made
• In May 2016 – 1 712 960
passenger journeys made
About MyCiTi
• Phase 1 completed
• Planning for Phase 2 underway
• R6 billion investment (TBC)
MyCiTi Phase 1
A growing network of services and routes
Support and opposition for new public transport
• Enthusiasm as well as opposition
• Vocal minority opposed
• Issues include
• Costs and debate about public
investment
• Concern about minibus taxi
industry in the system;
• Sequencing of the roll out; and
• Location of infrastructure,
amongst other issues.
• Range of concerns based on diverse
vested interests
Early opponents
• Flamingo Vlei
• Vigorous opposition
• Route planned for the
area withdrawn
• Now area markets itself as
being on the system
Opposition to stops and routes in privileged areas
• Location of stops and the choice of roads for bus routes is often contentious
• Communication is key
Tackling opposition to stops and routes
• Explain proposed routes and locations of stops and station
• Use the media and direct communication
• Hold public meetings and public information sessions
• Make the experts available to the public
Communicate about construction
• Tell affected parties to expect
construction
• Communicate start and finish
dates
• Acknowledge the inconvenience
• Present the trade offs and the
benefits
Priority for public transport
• Peninsula stops
• Removal of parking
Change in tone as system launches
• Media coverage becomes more positive
Phase 2: Planning a better city
• Reversing Apartheid legacy and urban sprawl
• Improving the urban landscape, encouraging Transit
Oriented Development
• Opposition from privileged communities
South Road – the ‘missing’ link
• Proposal for new rail underpass using existing road scheme
Brodie and Main couplet proposal
The South Road road scheme
• Road scheme approved in 1974
• One of 111 approved schemes across the city
• 368 council owned properties are in road schemes
• Road schemes support economic development and spatial planning
objectives as the city grows
• Process halted due to legal challenge
The phase 2 NIMBY challenge
• Dozens of public meetings with communities along the new routes
• Overwhelming support articulated for phase 2 by users of public transport
• Major opposition in Wynberg from private car users and privileged
• Objection to South Road underpass and couplet
• Vested interests continue to halt a plan that will link the formerly white
portion of Wynberg with people of the metro south east
• A handful of privileged households vs the interests of thousands denied
access to opportunity because of apartheid spatial planning
Conclusion
• Anticipate kneejerk Nimbyism
• Look for opportunities to build on the common ground that exists
• Ongoing communication is key
• Set aside time to engage with communities and stakeholders
• Those who shout the loudest may not be right
• The vulnerable, the poor and the marginal may not be heard above the more
loudly articulated needs and wants of those with vested interests and
resources
• Public authorities need to act in the public interest and in support of social
and economic development that benefit a broad cross section and creates
new opportunities in our society
Thank you