Is An Integrated Transport System The Key To Creating A Greener Future?

Transport enables citizens and organisations to access goods, services and information in a sustainable manner. It supports and enriches their quality of life, increases travel choices and promotes social cohesion.

The City of Johannesburg believes introducing multi-modal transport infrastructure will encourage people to use public transport and create a shift in attitudes and behaviour, away from private vehicle usage.

Environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, ecological mobile transport choices have low to no emissions compared to personal cars powered by fossil fuels. This approach, known as ecomobility, is highlighted at the second EcoMobility World Festival which will be held in Sandton Johannesburg from 5-31 October 2015.

The festival aims to give people a preview of a future transport system where public transport, walking and cycling become the modes of choice. For its duration, the Sandton CBD - one of the busiest districts in South Africa - will be decongested and its streets turned into public spaces, where people will be able to move from point to point using public transport, walking, cycling and ecomobile vehicles.

International Experience Utilised In Transport Master Plan

Arup developed a transport master plan for Sandton that promotes a shift from private car to alternative modes of transport. The festival’s transport arrangements reinforce a number of the plan’s proposals, which is why Arup agreed to be an event partner.

“Arup is involved in collecting data during and after the event to develop an understanding of the changes in travel patterns and choices made because of the festival arrangements,” explains Madeleen Engelbrecht, associate director, Transport Planning, Arup.

“The festival has presented us with a unique opportunity. The changes introduced during this time marks the start of a process of long-term changes, where the streets will give dignity to pedestrians, safety to cyclists and access to public transport users. The festival will leave a lasting legacy for Johannesburg, Gauteng and the southern African region.”

“The Festival will demonstrate to the world that an ecomobile future is possible and that public transport, walking and cycling can be accessible, safe and attractive,” Mpho Parks Tau, Executive Mayor Johannesburg

Ecomobile Cities Are The Future

“Internationally, Arup has been involved in the long-term planning of sustainability in major metros for more than a decade” continues Engelbrecht. “In South Africa, the firm was heavily involved in supporting the economic case for the Gautrain development, which was a vital step in reducing private transport and uplift the public transport system in Gauteng.

The future for Johannesburg is a seamless transport system, where people can switch easily between rapid rail, passenger rail, Metrobus, the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system, minibus taxis, cycling and walking. This will significantly reduce the volume of private transport usage in the City and enable Johannesburg to move closer towards its


environmental targets. The objective is to create a liveable urban environment served by a balanced multi-modal transport system that will improve accessibility for people making both shorter and longer-trips within the City.

During the festival, Melrose Arch will offer a park-and-ride facility by releasing 200 of its public parking spaces, with specific EcoMobility marshals onsite to assist commuters using the Gautrain and Gautrain buses. “The Melrose Arch precinct is a forerunner of developing a livable city environment, and one in which Arup played a major part; we were involved in the planning and execution of the project and it is home to our head office,” says Engelbrecht.

First conceived in the 1990s, and developed more than a full decade before the birth of the South African green building sustainability movement, the 19-hectare site, now home to the developing Melrose Arch precinct, was specifically chosen to embrace forward thinking ecomobility.

Designed for and with the full enjoyment of walking in mind, the precinct considers the pedestrian at every turn; with tree-lined avenues populated by street furniture, and buildings with engaging and active façades. Where it does have street-level boulevards and lanes, it has traffic calming measures throughout. “The mixed-use precinct has, from its inception, encouraged the ability for shoppers, diners, tourists, visitors, employees and employers to capitalise on a more sustainable way to experience life. The designers of Melrose Arch embraced the ethos of new urbanism and with that thinking, the car takes second place to that of pedestrian,” explains Josef Quraishi, head of sustainability and green buildings for Amdec, owners of Melrose Arch.

“In keeping with pioneering key features of an ‘eco-city’, Melrose Arch will take ecomobility even further through the introduction of charging stations for electric vehicles. The precinct is also in discussions over implementing new world-class initiatives such as on-line carpooling facilities and electric bicycle hiring stations,” he concludes.

Ecomobility Part Of Climate Change Strategy

“In the context of climate change, improving the efficiency of urban public transport will have a major positive impact on cities, reducing their emissions and improving quality of life for residents.

“In South African cities, where sprawl and low-density settlement are the norm, cycling or walking are often an essential part of a daily commute. Thus, non-motorised transport (NMT) networks are essential as the last mile of an integrated transport system. The provision of NMT is also being actively pursued to reduce emissions and promote healthy and more liveable communities. The EcoMobility World Festival 2015 is a potent demonstration of how future cities could look in South Africa,” concludes Engelbrecht.

About Arup

Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the world’s most prominent projects in the built environment and across industry. From 90 offices in 38 countries our 11,000 planners, designers, engineers and consultants deliver innovative projects across the world with creativity and passion.

We have over 650 staff in Africa, of which over 400 are based in South Africa.  Through our unsurpassed technology and connectivity, we can call on the international expertise of our colleagues from across the globe at any time.

We have worked on more than 20,000 projects and developments in Africa including commercial buildings, mixed-use developments, airports, sports venues, bridges, highways, railways, industrial development zones, oil, gas and energy projects, hospitals, prisons, arts and cultural venues, science and technology parks, water and waste projects.

We have provided or continue to provide multidisciplinary engineering, planning, project management, transaction advice and sustainability consulting services.

For more information, go to www.arup.com/Global_locations/South_Africa.aspx.

Issued on behalf of:              Arup
Contact:                                 Charlotte Middleton
                                               Associate | Marketing & Communications
Tel:                                         +27 11 218 7885
Cell:                                        +27 82 377 1212
Email:                                     charlotte.middleton@arup.com      
Website:                                www.arup.com
Date:                                      06 October 2015

Issued by:                               SJC Creative  
Contact:                                 Sue Charlton
Tel:                                         011 794 8170/082 579 4263 
E-mail:                                    sjc@worldonline.co.za