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area withdrawn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