3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Urban transportation--South Africa

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    The application of urban design principles to create habitable, safe and self-sustainable urban precincts: the case of Centurion Gautrain Station Precinct
    (2020) Nyoni, Barnet
    Through urban design a number of spatial and developmental challenges can be mitigated or completely eradicated, thus appropriating urban spaces in order to create robust urban environments for humans to work, live, shop and play. In so doing, a number of urban design tools and urban design principles are applied in transforming undesirable urban environments. Economic stimulation, through the optimisation of public transport infrastructure is also possible. This research aims to establish what constitutes a robust urban environment, identify the key urban design principles that can be used to transform an undesirable urban precinct to desirable and robust urban precincts. These principles are then applied to the study area, which is bounded by Lenchen Avenue, Jean Avenue, Gerhard Street and John Vorster Avenue. Though this precinct is highly accessible with a wide range of land uses, it is relatively underdeveloped. The precinct is inundated with development challenges that include, fragmented development, lack of essential public amenities, unsafe public spaces and vehicular/ pedestrian conflict to mention but a few. This precinct is a business core for the City of Tshwane and is highly connected with easy access to the major national roads like the N1 and the N14. It was developed with the main aim of decongesting the congested commercial activities in the Pretoria CBD. Owing to its strategic location, the study area has potential to be commercially viable, and a thriving hub with mixed economies that can be safely used by people. The theme for this research is “The application of Urban Design Principles to Create Habitable, Safe and Self-sustainable Urban Precinct: The Case of Centurion Gautrain Station Precinct”. The main research question being “What role can urban design principles play in transforming undesirable urban spaces to desirable urban spaces?”. Keys concepts from Responsive Environments relating to permeability, variety, legibility, robustness, visual appropriateness richness and, personalization will be applied to the study area through design
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    The planning process around an integrated transport Node/Station: indingilizi
    (2019) Nyanda, Nduduzo
    The South African minibus taxi industry is responsible for providing transport for more than 60% of the population and workforce in urban areas, but it is still regarded as informal. This rendering of it as informal can be traced back to the apartheid era and the structural laws put in place by the government, which still are continued in post-apartheid South Africa. In trying to address this at a local level, Cities like Johannesburg have initiated a transit oriented development programme, which aims to incorporate the minibus taxi industry into the bus rapid transit system, and use it and the development of its support infrastructure to drive economic growth and development along key strategic routes/corridors throughout the City (The Corridors of Freedom). As well cutting down on congestion, the programme is meant to redress the socio-political and economic disparities created by apartheid spatial planning, using a bus transit system to ‘re-stitch’ the racially and economically segregated City back together. This also extended to the minibus taxi industry through their incorporation into the system as shareholders (PioTrans), The first two phases (1A & 1B) of the system (Rea Vaya) which link various parts of Soweto to the Johannesburg CBD are functioning, with most affected taxi entities on-board as shareholders of the system. Spatially however, the stations are designed as silos and have not been integrated in with existing transport networks or any surrounding infrastructure. All stations except one, Indingilizi in Dobsonville. Here some attempt has been made to try and house the various transport modes and operators into one transport interchange. From face value, the attempts with Indigilizi seems like a good start at an integrated transport node in the CoF ought to look like, as it tries to integrate the Rea Vaya with the minibus taxis operating in the area. However, upon closer inspection one realises that the systems are in fact not integrated. At best one can say all the operators are just located in (and not even sharing) one space. This speaks to exclusionary nature of the operational design of the node, as even traders have chosen to operate outside along the street and not in the formally built structures in the node. The building’s physical design is also exclusionary as it is fenced off and does not integrate with its surroundings.
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    The Impact of Public Transport Policy on Social Exclusion of Hillbrow Residents
    (2019) Ejamu, Norah Aganyo
    This research looked at the public transport experiences and opinions of Hillbrow residents and how that related to the impact of social exclusion they experienced. It involved an investigation into the significance of the relationship between various factors of social exclusion, as influenced by a prior London study, and public transport available to the residents, and the strength of the relationship between the various factors. The target sample was adult Hillbrow residents and frequent public transport users. The study was mixed methods, beginning with a focus group interview. The paper looked at relevant government policy with regard to public transport aims and goals and plans to improve inner city public transport. Survey data collection followed the interview, which was conducted at various public transport hubs within and around Hillbrow, online, and at the Hillbrow Recreation Centre. The study found that most respondents were regular public transport users. Mini-bus taxis were the most frequently used, followed by Metrobus and Rea Vaya. Residents found public transport easy to access, close to home and school, affordable and safe. However, they did not find public transport close to work, found it to be irregular, costs frequently rose, and they did not trust the driving capabilities of the drivers. Public policy and its implementation were shown to have had some negative and positive results based on residents' opinions. These negative aspects were shown to have an impact on social exclusion to varying degrees. While public transport is readily available, affordable and easy to access for Hillbrow residents, there are needed improvements for factors that had significant impact on social exclusion.
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    Leveraging malboro gautrain precinct (MGSP) for inclusive green urbanism ithe Gauteng city region
    (2017) Ismail, Taariq
    The MGSP has potential to be a space that develops into a precinct rooted within the principles of inclusive green urbanism. Currently the precinct is not adapting to its optimum potential given the opportunity of the Gautrain station. With the advent of large mega-projects adjoining the precinct, an economically high income “triangle” is created with Alexandra in the centre. The value of the precinct is expected to gain momentum and the risk of socio-economic exploitation and gentrification can lead to spatial displacement of the low-income residents. This study intends to use the Precinct as a case-study in order to evaluate how one could leverage the surrounding urban development mega-projects to transform the MGSP in pursuit of enhanced inclusive green urbanism for the GCR and thus inform efforts towards integrated urban development with enhanced inclusive green urbanism as the primary goal. The sub-questions seek to understand the inclusivity value of the MGSP for the GCR; the MGSPs transformation constraining factors; and how best to transform the MGSP in a manner that mitigates the risk of gentrification and displacement. The methodology was based on a qualitative approach with primary data collected through interviews and secondary data captured from policy and planning reports and the relevant municipal and provincial policies. The study finds that the MGSP has a high inclusivity and transformative value with vast potential for the Precinct to be transformed into a thriving inter-modal TOD precinct within Johannesburg and the GCR. However, limitations are noted, such as the uncertainty surrounding the vacant Frankenwald land within the precinct. In addition, private sector developers do not fully acknowledge their significant opportunity to contribute to the transformation of Alexandra. If planned responsively, and especially within the framework of inclusive green urbanism, and specifically based on a TOD focus then the transformation potential for the precinct and the greater Alexandra areas is now ripe. This would optimise value and quality of life for its current and future residents
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