THE GAUTRAIN SUCCESS STORY AND BEYOND<\/strong><\/h2>\nCommuters attach great value to easy access to high-quality public transport, and the Gautrain project is a golden example of the knock-on effect on real estate. The Gautrain has spawned new developments, stimulated old, and increased development in and around the stations \u2013 effectively becoming a development node. There\u2019s massive demand for property close to the stations \u2013 particularly sectional-title units \u2013 and prices have increased markedly against equivalent properties further out.<\/p>\n
Councillor Christine Walters, a member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for transport in the City of Johannesburg, says: \u201cFor the Gautrain, we currently have the south-north and the eastern links. The premier and the MEC for roads and transport are now finalising plans to take it to the western side, and down to the south. We\u2019re complementing that with the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system. Completed is Phase One A: Soweto into the eastern side of the City; and Phase One B: massive infrastructure from Soweto coming down the corridor right into the city. We\u2019re currently busy with Phase One C, by far the biggest of the three, and a project due for completion by 2037. Eventually, you\u2019ll be able to travel from the Soweto area on any route, and still get into Sandton and Alexandra, Ivory Park into Midrand.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not all they\u2019re doing. Whatever catchphrase the various cities have given it, non-motorised transport is the buzzword, to which the month-long EcoMobility World Festival<\/a><\/strong> experiment in Sandton is testament. Given that every day about 10,000 people walk and cycle roughly 5km from Alexandra to Sandton \u2212 crossing over the M1 at Grayston Interchange \u2013 the building of new bridges, and revamping of old ones, is high on the agenda. A dedicated bridge will be a game changer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HOW CAPE TOWN IS MOVING<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhat about the Mother City? Scutinising their Built Environment Performance Plan* (BEPP), it\u2019s clear this city, too, is prioritising transit-oriented development (TOD). The city considers TOD a priority development strategy that is achievable only in partnership with the property-development sector. They are currently mobilising resources, expertise and mechanisms that will leverage private-sector interest, starting with a R57m capital investment grant from the government.<\/p>\n
The city has already invested R5.7bn in the MyCiTi<\/a><\/strong> Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, and has a 20-year plan for its further roll-out. Its public transport strategy will be further bolstered by plans to upgrade the city\u2019s passenger rail system. Draft 2(a) of the City of Cape Town\u2019s BEPP 2014\/15 states: \u201cSustainable and transformative city building means we need to develop housing closer to where people currently work, while also developing work and other opportunities near where people currently live, with everything located in close proximity to high-quality public transport. The city has therefore identified two initial priority corridors in which to promote TOD-oriented development, and has undertaken extensive analyses in support of its proposal to introduce a spatially targeted investment incentive regime for a number of industrial areas within these corridors.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
DURBAN ON THE GO<\/strong><\/h2>\nGODurban!<\/a><\/strong> is Durban\u2019s integrated rapid public-transport network. Now well underway, it comes with a massive vision to redress and address Durban\u2019s transport links and to facilitate safe, non-motorised transport options. \u201cIt\u2019s the biggest infrastructural project the city has ever undertaken, with an investment of R22bn over 13 years,\u201d says eThekwini Municipality mayor councillor James Nxumalo.<\/p>\nDurban has a great deal on its dashboard. With the dangling carrot of the Commonwealth Games in seven years\u2019 time, not only does the city have numerous major infrastructure projects on or nearly off the drawing board, but a tantalising need to capture the attention of \u2013 and entertain \u2013 the Games\u2019 estimated 200,000 tourists likely to descend on their shores. In total, international visitors are expected to contribute up to R12bn in direct expenditure, while investment in infrastructure is expected to contribute to lasting benefits for the city. The Games will be designed, planned and executed to facilitate certain national priorities, like housing. It\u2019s envisaged that the athletes\u2019 village will contribute around 1,800 housing units within the greater Durban area. After the event, it may accommodate around 7,000 individuals. In total, the Games are expected to deliver up to R20bn to the economy in output, translating into an estimated R11bn GDP growth.<\/p>\n
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HOW CAPE TOWN IS MOVING<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhat about the Mother City? Scutinising their Built Environment Performance Plan* (BEPP), it\u2019s clear this city, too, is prioritising transit-oriented development (TOD). The city considers TOD a priority development strategy that is achievable only in partnership with the property-development sector. They are currently mobilising resources, expertise and mechanisms that will leverage private-sector interest, starting with a R57m capital investment grant from the government.<\/p>\n
The city has already invested R5.7bn in the MyCiTi<\/a><\/strong> Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, and has a 20-year plan for its further roll-out. Its public transport strategy will be further bolstered by plans to upgrade the city\u2019s passenger rail system. Draft 2(a) of the City of Cape Town\u2019s BEPP 2014\/15 states: \u201cSustainable and transformative city building means we need to develop housing closer to where people currently work, while also developing work and other opportunities near where people currently live, with everything located in close proximity to high-quality public transport. The city has therefore identified two initial priority corridors in which to promote TOD-oriented development, and has undertaken extensive analyses in support of its proposal to introduce a spatially targeted investment incentive regime for a number of industrial areas within these corridors.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
DURBAN ON THE GO<\/strong><\/h2>\nGODurban!<\/a><\/strong> is Durban\u2019s integrated rapid public-transport network. Now well underway, it comes with a massive vision to redress and address Durban\u2019s transport links and to facilitate safe, non-motorised transport options. \u201cIt\u2019s the biggest infrastructural project the city has ever undertaken, with an investment of R22bn over 13 years,\u201d says eThekwini Municipality mayor councillor James Nxumalo.<\/p>\nDurban has a great deal on its dashboard. With the dangling carrot of the Commonwealth Games in seven years\u2019 time, not only does the city have numerous major infrastructure projects on or nearly off the drawing board, but a tantalising need to capture the attention of \u2013 and entertain \u2013 the Games\u2019 estimated 200,000 tourists likely to descend on their shores. In total, international visitors are expected to contribute up to R12bn in direct expenditure, while investment in infrastructure is expected to contribute to lasting benefits for the city. The Games will be designed, planned and executed to facilitate certain national priorities, like housing. It\u2019s envisaged that the athletes\u2019 village will contribute around 1,800 housing units within the greater Durban area. After the event, it may accommodate around 7,000 individuals. In total, the Games are expected to deliver up to R20bn to the economy in output, translating into an estimated R11bn GDP growth.<\/p>\n
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DURBAN ON THE GO<\/strong><\/h2>\nGODurban!<\/a><\/strong> is Durban\u2019s integrated rapid public-transport network. Now well underway, it comes with a massive vision to redress and address Durban\u2019s transport links and to facilitate safe, non-motorised transport options. \u201cIt\u2019s the biggest infrastructural project the city has ever undertaken, with an investment of R22bn over 13 years,\u201d says eThekwini Municipality mayor councillor James Nxumalo.<\/p>\nDurban has a great deal on its dashboard. With the dangling carrot of the Commonwealth Games in seven years\u2019 time, not only does the city have numerous major infrastructure projects on or nearly off the drawing board, but a tantalising need to capture the attention of \u2013 and entertain \u2013 the Games\u2019 estimated 200,000 tourists likely to descend on their shores. In total, international visitors are expected to contribute up to R12bn in direct expenditure, while investment in infrastructure is expected to contribute to lasting benefits for the city. The Games will be designed, planned and executed to facilitate certain national priorities, like housing. It\u2019s envisaged that the athletes\u2019 village will contribute around 1,800 housing units within the greater Durban area. After the event, it may accommodate around 7,000 individuals. In total, the Games are expected to deliver up to R20bn to the economy in output, translating into an estimated R11bn GDP growth.<\/p>\n
Durban has a great deal on its dashboard. With the dangling carrot of the Commonwealth Games in seven years\u2019 time, not only does the city have numerous major infrastructure projects on or nearly off the drawing board, but a tantalising need to capture the attention of \u2013 and entertain \u2013 the Games\u2019 estimated 200,000 tourists likely to descend on their shores. In total, international visitors are expected to contribute up to R12bn in direct expenditure, while investment in infrastructure is expected to contribute to lasting benefits for the city. The Games will be designed, planned and executed to facilitate certain national priorities, like housing. It\u2019s envisaged that the athletes\u2019 village will contribute around 1,800 housing units within the greater Durban area. After the event, it may accommodate around 7,000 individuals. In total, the Games are expected to deliver up to R20bn to the economy in output, translating into an estimated R11bn GDP growth.<\/p>\n
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