Sandton braces for month-long shutdown

Streets across Sandton will be closed off for the entire month of October, while the City of Johannesburg hosts the world’s second ever ‘EcoMobility World Festival and Exhibition’– a month-long car-free district event.



The lanes which will be closed will instead be used for public transport, walking, cycling and other forms of eco-mobility during the Transport Month, executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Parks Tau announced.



Maude Street, West Street, Rivonia Road, Fredman Drive, Alice Lane and Gwen Lane will all be affected, but delegates at the recent mayoral breakfast were assured that a traffic impact assessment had indicated that these plans were doable and would not lead to ‘chaos’ in Sandton.



The City of Johannesburg said that there were major changes to transport patterns envisaged for Sandton in the long term, and the Festival would serve as a glimpse of a future where public transport took precedence and there was infrastructure in place to encourage walking and cycling. “We want to show residents and visitors that an eco-mobile future is possible and that public transport, walking and cycling can be accessible, safe, attractive and cool!” explained Mayor Tau.



Sandton has seen its number of incoming commuters increase at 3.4% per annum – a number likely to increase at 3% per annum at the current rate. An estimated 85 797 vehicles travel in and out of the district every morning between 06h00 and 10h00, while 89 217 travel in and out during the 15h00-19h00 peak period. The fear is that there is not enough road space if the growth continues in the same way, with the high level of private cars.



By 2017, the District will roll out Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit lanes and services, cycle lanes, public transport lanes, wider sidewalks, park and ride facilities, bike share schemes, corporate travel plans as well as Metrobus restructuring and recapitalisation, in an effort to promote the use of public transport and to create a high level of accessibility for people entering the business hub.



The Mayor gave his assurance that the City would provide alternative transport in and out of Sandton during the festival.



Source: etnw