3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Assessing the role of public transport-oriented development in promoting investment: the case of Johannesburg's Rea Vaya and the Louis Botha corridor of freedom(2019) Ngidi, Zinhle SinenhlanhlaTransit Oriented Development (TOD) in practice dates back to the 1880s. The definition and concept were more recently coined by urban practitioner, Peter Calthorpe in the 1980s. The concept has evolved over time, however, the fundamentals remain universally accepted. TOD is a multidisciplinary tool that can be used for the achievement of social, economic and environmental benefits. It has been observed that the popularity of TOD as an urban transformation tool has increased internationally. The outcomes on the other hand have been varied depending on the unique features of the location where it is implemented. Johannesburg is one of South Africa’s pilot metropolitan areas for TOD. The Corridors of Freedom (CoF) initiative among other things aims to crowd in private sector investment into areas that are in much need of urban renewal. This paper probes the progress that has been made in achieving private sector investment in property development in the CoF between 2013 and 2017. Theories incorporating geographic and economic thought aid the contextualisation of TOD within the greater body of work within the field of development. Results show that there is private participation in the development of high-density, mixed use buildings. It is however argued that developments that have taken place so far rely heavily on the principles of property development as opposed to TOD principles.Item The impact of rail transit stations on commercial real estate property values: case study of the PRASA station in Jeppestown(2019) Mashiri, LesleyAs cities continue to experience rapid urban growth there are opportunities which exist in linking transport planning with dynamic land uses within the city. The main planning approach which stands out in achieving this is transit-oriented development planning. This form of planning is essential as it connects people with services and employment opportunities located in cities and urban areas. Transit-oriented development of a higher quality has the potential to generate revenue which can be used to improve the quality in transit-oriented systems and ultimately boost economic growth and development. Inclusive to this statement is the idea that transit systems are associated with societal benefits; congestion relief, social equity improvement, reductions in dangerous gas emissions and economic development. This study explores the importance of TOD and especially the prescribed linkages between proximity to a railway station and the influence this has on nearby commercial property prices. The study discusses the possible effects of other amenities found around close to the commercial properties and determines. The aim being to find out if these other amenities also have an impact on commercial property values in the study area. This is done through unpacking relatable discourse associated with transit-oriented development and through a research process which investigates whether there are other factors influencing commercial property values around the railway station in Jeppestown. The study will contribute towards the broader body of literature around TOD nodes, rail transit stations and commercial property values by providing empirical evidence provided by a quantitative study. The study uses multiple regression models to determine whether commercial property values are influenced by their proximity to a railway station or by other factors. It was initially expected that proximity would have an impact on commercial property values, but at the same time there was an argument for other factors and conditions located nearby to the commercial properties having an influence too. The empirical evidence collected showed that the proximity to the railway station was not statistically significant. The determinants of commercial property value which were significant were distance to school’s property age, retail, industrial and unidentified property. The limited impact of a railway station on commercial property value has been discussed in the analysis section of this thesis. The discussion has shed some light on the gaps associated with the way in which railway stations relate to commercial real estate property values in Metropolitan cities, across the developing world and beyond. The findings of the study will contribute towards better transit oriented development policies to be formulated as well as a better understanding of how public sector investments can help create value for properties.Item Gateway to a city: a transport interchange in Vereeniging(2017) Da Silva, Paulo Sousa NevesThis research report is an exploration of the public arena of a transport interchange in Vereeniging’s urban centre, and the opportunities created within a zone where many people of different backgrounds converge and interact. Therefore the document looks at various forms of transport converging on a single node and how best to integrate these into a single zone where all can feed off one another and enhance the experience within the public transport realm itself. The divisions of race, class & income cannot be wished away in Vereeniging, therefore the urban context of the inner city needs to be addressed (this indirectly affects the mindsets of the city’s inhabitants). The local informal economy, mini-bus taxi industry, bus services and rail have each appropriated responses to overcome the obstacles of segregation. The entrenched presence of the local informal economy and mini-bus taxi industry and its legal conflict with formal urban systems further fuels their independence. This still young newly found independence can mature in an urban intervention in which new rules of engagement are charted and a new tradition in the built environment begins. Therefore a gateway is a metaphor for the integration of public transport modes into a point of convergence at an urban movement node. It is also here at the threshold of this gateway, in and out of the city, that trade is best exploited and social engagements have the highest potential. It is not about erasing but rather reassembling a viable urban future, through learning from and working within the given conditionsItem [EX]Change: a social intervention & hybridised transport junction for the Sandton CBD(2017) Brien, Justin TicknerOur CBDs are developing continuously and urban sprawl is growing at a rapid rate. Without sufficient upgrades to infrastructure and public transport networks, how long will it take before the struggle of everyday commuting becomes near impossible and transport costs become too high for most South Africans? Simply moving back to the Cities and CBDs is not an option for the majority of our population because as these areas become denser, the price of property and rentals increase. We need a solution for our current situation, to regain the control of the road networks in and around these areas. The aim of this thesis is to propose an alternative, hybridised transport system. To reduce the reliance on privately owned, single passenger motor vehicles by encouraging the use of public, semiprivate and non-motorised forms of transport in order to alleviate traffic congestion from major CBDs, aid in social cohesion and promote a healthier lifestyle by making use of bicycles. The Sandton CBD will be the area of focus affected by the study with the site located on the fringe, at the intersection of William Nicol Drive and Republic Road. The proposal introduces a system which would couple onto existing urban design framework proposals as well as transport networks such as, the Rea Vaya (BRT), Gautrain (Train and Bus networks) and the privately owned mini-bus taxi and bus industry. Adjacent to the site is the Braamfontein Spruit cycle path which will aid in the process of gathering and promoting an interest in cycling as a means of everyday transport. The building put forward in this thesis will act as a knuckle and point of convergence where people will be able to utilise different means of transport. It will also serve as a new social and active lifestyle hub comprising of a gym (connected to a research centre), social and recreational spaces, retail facilities, transport information offices, mass parking and accommodation.Item The responsiveness of public transport systems to the development of urban and economic nodes in Johannesburg(2016) Prim, Lyle BriceOver the last decade national, provincial and local governments within South Africa have paid considerable attention to the benefits and need for an effective and reliable public transport system to meet the social challenges facing South African cities. The development of public transport systems is viewed as a tool to alleviate poverty and unemployment, as they provide access to opportunities and services previously out of reach. In Johannesburg the Spatial disparities created during the apartheid era continue to divide the city along the lines of class and race, and serve to marginalise low income groups located on the periphery, far from economic centres. Over the last 10 years urban and economic growth in the west of Johannesburg has occurred at a rapid rate giving rise to numerous informal settlements and government subsidised homes. These developments occurred without the development of public transport systems isolating low income residents. This study seeks to examine the extent to which public transportation systems are responding to the growth of new urban and economic nodes in Johannesburg in a manner that supports the interests and needs of the city’s low income residents. The study investigates the cases of the Gautrain and Rea Vaya. The study evaluates the systems through an analysis of the state’s public transportation plans and policies and the challenges and successes of each system, taking into account what are the state’s current and future public transport plans and how are they responding to urban and economic growth in the west of Johannesburg. Through the use of spatial data, the study examines the spatial and economic trends in Johannesburg, the location of the urban poor and the effects of changes in commuter patterns. The study takes into account current and future urban and economic trends and examines the way in which public transport systems can make a positive impact upon the urban poor. This evaluation is done through an analysis of international literature and best practices that can be used in the development of public transport systems that are responsive, effective and reliable. Key respondents were interviewed to examine the impediments facing the development of responsive public transport systems and how this affects low income commuters in Johannesburg. Through the use of numerous forms of data including maps, policy documents and key respondent interviews, study reveals that future transport developments see the Gautrain and the Rea Vaya expanding to the west of Johannesburg. These developments will only occur in the late future, leaving low income residents without a formal means of public transport for many years to come. Low income residents within these regions lack the means to access opportunities and services. Research into the phenomenon reveals that in order to address the challenges faced by the urban poor in the west a more dynamic and integrated approach is required in the development of public transport systems in Johannesburg. These findings provide a critical understanding the development of public transport systems and the impediments that restrict the responsiveness of public transportation development in Johannesburg.Item The attractiveness of transit-orientated developments(2015-05-14) Norsworthy, Jeremy LouisThe nature of transport systems determines how people can travel from Johannesburg to Pretoria within the city. This research report seeks to demonstrate that transit-oriented development (TOD) as a concept has a strong sustainability agenda, and also has a strong developmental thrust. Concepts such as the “compact city” and the “smart city”, propagated for the sustainable use of the city and were used to influence the planning of TODs. The research report will seek to gain an understanding of how transit-orientated developments work and also how different concepts have influenced the way they are planned. The report also uses theories such as compact city, sustainable city and other theories like Christaller’s (1933) central place theory to form an explanation as to why these TOD nodes could be seen as attractive. Because the City of Johannesburg has promoted the use of TOD, property developers are indirectly encouraged to develop in these areas through various incentives that have been placed in the node. This study focuses on the Sandton area and specifically the area around the Gautrain station, and investigates how the concept of TOD has made the node more attractive for retail development and consumers. Apart from providing a basic understanding and overview of TOD, it explains the logic behind TOD and what makes it attractive to developers and consumers. The literature looks at theorists like Christaller (1933) to explain this phenomenon, while the epistemology of multiplicity is one which uses mixed methods to ensure that the questions posed in the research, along with the theories in the literature, are proved or disproved. This research report concludes by reflecting on some of the key factors of TOD that affect attractiveness. The main reason for this report is that, by identifying what is attractive to the consumer and the developer, a better understanding of the logic that underpins the market will be developed. A clearer understanding of the logic that operates in this market could allow for a number of new insights both when planning TOD nodes combined with major infrastructure projects, and when looking to develop in these areas. Another of the important questions that were answered was whether or not shopping-centre attractiveness was enhanced by TOD policies.Item Inhabiting the in-between: the transitional locations of urban settings(2015-04-30) Chihota, Rufaro BenjaminMovement between spaces ordinarily creates an in-between place in space, a place which is neither the precise place of departure nor the precise place of arrival, but is related to both. This generates another re- ality, a short-lived, momentary transitional place. Every day people travel great distances from one edge of the city to another by means of public transportation. We move through spaces such as airports, train and bus stations which exist as purely transitional spaces, and ironically many of these environments have certain emptiness about them even though there is a large convergence of people that come through these spaces on a daily basis. This thesis presents an architectural proposal that addresses the issues of transitional locations, by identifying the architectural possibilities within a liminal context. I investigate how architecture and infrastructure can be integrated by allowing for programmatic hybridization in a South African urban context of the Johannesburg inner city. I propose a multimodal transit station where different modes of public transport intersect. The site is the existing Westgate station in the south western corner of the inner city of Johannesburg. The objectives of the building are to facilitate the functional aims of a multimodal transit station, to establish the station as a destination and to enable connection and exchange between different people. These are achieved by upgrading the existing public transport facilities and introducing educational, commercial, and recreational functions This architectural exploration aims to enrich public life in transitional spac- es of urban settings. Many of the challenges associated with the typolo- gy of transit, including the sense of void and isolation that comes with mobility nodes that act as merely a transit zone, are addressed through the integration of mixed programmes that will enhance public space and create opportunity to linger. The aim is to provide an attractive and lively pedestrian environment starting at the transit station to make the experi- ence of arrival and being in the area a satisfying one.