Transport – the struggle for universal access

1. Transport – the struggle for universal access Jeremy Cronin - Deputy Minister Transport Disability Trade and Lifestyle Conference 6th October 2011, Sandton

2. Access and mobility – an integral part of building a democratic SA Freedom Charter(1955): “All shall be free to travel without restriction from countryside to town, from province to province, and from SA abroad; “Pass laws, permits and all other laws restricting these freedoms shall be abolished.”…they HAVE been abolished… But …the struggle for universal access continues!

3. The Challenges • Extremely poor Public Transport (unreliable, unsafe, often too expensive)…but only 31% of SA’n households have access to a car • 30% households spend 11% plus of income on PT, 18% spend 20% plus • In KZN – 15% of learners walk over 1h30 mins to and from school • SA has one of highest per capita road fatality stats in world - 14,000 road fatalities p.a., 40% pedestrians – leading unnatural cause of death among 4-7 year olds, and main cause of injury-related death among women

7. Historic reasons for urban sprawl • Absence of major geographical barriers – eg. Gauteng --- but even in CT • Apartheid spatial planning and forced removals • Auto-mobilisation and suburbanisation of white middle classes

10. Ongoing factors behind urban sprawl • Location of 3,1m RDP houses • Poor planning capacity, weak administration – property speculation and continued infrastructure bias against PT and mixed income and mixed use settlement patterns

11. Impact of sprawl • Distances (average PT trip length) Tshwane – 25,4 kms London - 8,6 kms Moscow 7,7 kms • High peak to base demand Idle fleet off-peak & single peak trips • Tidal flow demand pattern Empty return trips = Economic viability challenges = Patchy off-peak and weekend services

12. Economic viability challenges • 2010/11 Operational Subsidies PRASA – R3,2bn Buses – R3,9bn • But households expenditure on transport R0 – R500 35% of household income R501-R1000 23% R1001-R2000 14% • Discouraged work-seekers: “cost of transport” = major reason given

13. Government interventions PT Strategy Action Plan (2007) Shift from operator-controlled, commuter-based, uni-modal routes…..to….user-oriented, publicly controlled, fully integrated mass rapid PT network operations National Land Transport Act (2009) Incremental devolution of PT planning, infrastructure, regulation, operational funding

14. PTIS Grant PT Infrastructure and Systems Grant • Since 2006/7 • Current 2010/11 – R3,7billion to 12 municipalities • PTIS = leverage to transform cities

15. Metrorail • 2.3 million passenger trips per day • Ave. age of rolling stock 37 years old – of 4638 coaches only around 2920 in operation MAJOR 20-YEAR RECAPITALISATION • 20 year, R123bn programme – 300 coaches per year, plus depots and infrastructure

16. What about rural? • Empower District Councils – planning, regulation, resourcing, subsidies for basic services (access to clinics, pension pay-outs, schools) • Non-motorised transport • Key focus = maintenance and repair of road infrastructure, data available for 2% of local roads!! S’hambaSonkeprogramme – shift SANRAL’s mandate

17. DoT and Disability • DoT is busy finalising “Implementation Strategy and Action Plan to Guide Provision of Accessible PT Systems in SA” – focuses on people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, parents with prams, and children = some 20m life cycle passengers plus 2,4million passengers with impairments = 40% of SA’s population

18. Existing systems – micro-level problems • Pre-travel confidence and information – lack of info to give passenger confidence that trip can be made • Origin to Point of Access – poor provision/maintenance of public facilities (sidewalks, directional signage, etc.) • Point of access – identifying the vehicle needed for travel (distinguishing vehicle destination) • Boarding and alighting • On-board the vehicle – unsafe speeds, lack of restraint systems

19. Basic approach • Inclusion of people with disabilities must be through universal right of access to PT services based on principles of universal design • Key public entity partners in overseeing work of DoT – SA Human Rights Commission & Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities

20. Implementation Plan • Creating an enabling environment – commitment to funding for universal access – Treasury • Leveraging grants – PTIS Grant – in March 2011 DoT introduced new output for municipalities receiving grant – Universal Access Design Plan. What about PTOG? • Training and capacity building – in-house DoT, PRASA, SANTACO – we encourage disability sector to register training courses with relevant SETAs to build staff capacity and train operators of PT • Setting standards throughout PT systems

21. Upgrading of existing PT • We are working with PRASA on their Universal Access policy – upgrade existing assets and link it to recapitalisation • Gautrain – a new standard – but still challenges • Buses – engaging operators and National Regulator for Compulsory Specification (no classification for bus interchanges, often classified as parking garages – hence inappropriate facilities) • Mini- and midi-bus services – also working with NRCS, also reviewing Dial-a-Ride services • NMT infrastructure

22. Devolution of PT functions to municipal sphere • Integrated Rapid Public Transport Networks – in most major metros • Integrated Transport Plans in all municipalities • Rural PT networks – 6 districts: Sekhukhune (Limpopo), OR Tambo (EC), Umkhanyakude (KZN), Ehlanzeni (Mp), Thabo Mofutsanyane (FS), Kgalagadi (NC) Should facilitate local democracy and public participation and monitoring

23. Key role of disability sector • During development of DoT “Accessible PT Strategy and Action Plan”, Task Team – visited 12 municipalities, but not rural districts – funding constraints. • Still major need for a larger National Consultation Group • But critical also to develop disability sector activism and engagement at Municipal level YOU ARE OUR KEY AGENTS FOR CHANGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLE FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS ON BEHALF OF ALL SOUTH AFRICANS