Gauteng launches 25 year transport plan

Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said the "Integrated Transport Master Plan 25" (ITMP 25) proposed a radical change in spatial and transport planning.

"It's a point of departure from apartheid spatial planning, land use and mobility patterns and ushers in an innovative way of structuring our future societal development," he said.

Part of the plan was to prioritise the rail system as the backbone of the province's transport network. Vadi said moving away from private cars would reduce congestion, enhance efficiency and promote sustainability.

"Doing nothing would have a severe impact on the province's natural environment, its economy and the quality of life of its residents, making the province less pleasant to live in," Vadi said.

The ITMP 25 would be led by Gautrain chief executive Jack van der Merwe, who would work with an inter-disciplinary team of experts.

Gauteng's population was projected to rise to 18.7m people in the next 25 years, up from the current level of 12.3m. The working population would grow to 8.6m, making the number of passenger trips rise to about 25m a day, resulting in serious traffic congestion.

"Given the prospect of the population growing to 18.7m and a sharp increase in the use of privately-owned cars, residents of Gauteng would live through the nightmarish scenario of unparalleled traffic gridlocks," he said.

Another part of the plan was to move long distance freight from road to rail. "Rail-based freight logistic hubs would be developed on the periphery of core urban areas," Vadi said.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge