Mayor answers YOUR questions on Sandton’s car ban

11 August 2015 - 18:19 By The Times
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The City of Johannesburg’s executive mayor, Parks Tau, explains how October’s car-free month will work in the popular office and shopping suburb of Sandton. This is in response to questions posed by The Times’ readers on Facebook about why the city wants to make people walk or use public transport instead of using private vehicles.

Q: Will there be additional proactive policing in the area?

A: Yes, there will be a comprehensive safety and security strategy. 

Q: What will be put in place to make walking easier in those streets - for eg, fixing uneven pavements?

A: The sidewalks along the North side of West Street from the Gautrain Station will be redone and widened, and a bike lane added along the route.  All pavements in the festival area that are identified to repair some type of work to fit the purposes of the planned EcoMobility Festival.

Q: Where will park and ride facilities be? Will our cars be safe? Will there be a cost for this? 

A: Details of the Park and Rides are available on the website.  Most are malls where there is security. Where there is no private security, the City will provide security. Most park and rides will cost R10.

Q: Will additional buses be allocated to facilitate this? 

A: Existing services will be popularised and made more accessible. Some additional buses may be allocated.

Q: What if you finish work late - will someone escort you to where your car is parked? 

A: There will be last mile services such as electric tuk tuks and festival mini buses that will be able to transport people to their cars.

Q: How will the city aim to reduce traffic congestion in suburbs around Sandton (for example, by people who would normally go through the area now bypassing it using other roads and/or the people who are parking in these surrounding suburbs?

A: By encouraging as many people as possible to come to Sandton using public transport, walking and cycling so that there is a reduction in private cars.  Traffic studies have been done and it is not projected that there will be gridlock by closing the identified streets and lanes.

Q: What will be put in place for people who struggle to walk (eg the elderly or people on crutches). 

A: There will be no place which will not be accessible by car if a person needs to use a car to come to a particular destination.

The Festival Road Closure Plan:

Maude Street (between Rivonia and Fifth)

Closed for private vehicles (with arrangements for deliveries, etc.)

Cycle lane constructed between Rivonia and West (coming from Alexandra, via Linden)

West Street (between Rivonia and Fredman)

Closed for private vehicles (with arrangements for deliveries etc)

Will be reconstructed as complete street with increased sidewalks, cycle lanes, street furniture)

Rivonia, Fredman, Fifth

Temporary public transport loop - curb side, mostly one lane to be taken away, sometimes more to accommodate increased numbers of pedestrian

Remainder of road will be open for vehicular traffic

Pop up landscaping, bus stops and shelters for public transport users

Alice Lane

Closed for private vehicles (with arrangements for deliveries etc) To be used for test track for Exhibition

Gwen Lane

Closed for private vehicles (with arrangements for deliveries etc)

To be used for food festival and other street activities.

Alternative transport will include:

- Park and Rides in nearby areas and transport with tuk tuks, pedicabs and electric vehicles

- Additional public transport including new Metrobuses

- Newly constructed and pop up cycle lanes.

- Arrangements will be made for deliveries, waste removal, emergency vehicles and the disabled.

WHY THE CITY WANTS TO CLOSE OFF SANDTON TO PRIVATE CARS:

Numbers of commuters to Sandton - home to the JSE stock exchange, the headquarters of many of South Africa's top companies, Sandton City shopping centre and upmarket hotels as well as high-density townhouses and upmarket private homes - have increased at 3.4% per annum and is likely to continue to increase at 3% per annum, the City of Johannesburg says.

“There is not enough road space if the growth continues in the same way - high levels of private car use. Something must change or Sandton will be under fierce competition from other modes.”

The City has been working with the Sandton Management District over the last two years and last year approved a new Sandton Transport Master Plan to be implemented in partnership. The City is taking the lead in the implementation with the introduction of the bus rapid transit system (BRT), cycle lanes and improved public transport facilities.

“We are developing an integrated operational plan which will identify the most appropriate routes for BRT, Metrobus, Putco, mini bus taxis, metered taxis and Avanzas,” the city says in an explanatory document. This will be negotiated with public transport operators.

In addition, the city is recapitalising Metrobus with 150 new clean fuel buses.

“For members of the public this will lead to a denser public transport network, making public transport more accessible and reducing the need to use a car to come into the Sandton CBD.”

The city is discussing with owners and developers of various shopping malls to become Park and Rides for Gautrain buses, Rea Vaya or Metrobus. These include:

  • Brightwater Commons
  • Montecasino
  • Waterfall
  • Nicolway, and
  • Morningside Glen.

The city is also investigating the feasibility of an dedicated public transport lane in the morning and evening peak from Brightwater Commons and Montecasino.

The City’s planned transport project timelines

September 2015

Temporary demarcation of Sandton Loop (Rivonia, Fredman, 5 th.)

New complete streets on Maude ,West and Alice.

Possibly kerb side bus shelters along Rivonia, Fredman and 5th.

Katherine Ave will still be under construction.

Substantive road works along “loop” will commence after the festival.

32 new Metrobus to be introduced including on CBD to Sandton route

Park and rides (and dedicated public transport lane)

Bike donations in Alexandra, Orlando and Diepsloot

August 2016

Alexandra Interchange

Great Walk: Alex to Sandton - including bridges

December 2016

BRT lanes from Zandspruit Bridge to Marlboro Drive along Katherine

February 2017

Completion of all BRT infrastructure

Rea Vaya BRT to start operating between Sandton, Alex, CBD

September 2017

Rea Vaya BRT to operate to Midrand, Ivory Park, Sunninghill

2018

Randburg trunk route

Rea Vaya services to Randburg CBD

More information about the city's transport plan can be found here. WARNING - the app wants you to download ask.com. Don't.

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