Access solutions included in draft spatial development framework for Cape Town CBD
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
15 SEPTEMBER 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
The City recently published its draft local spatial development framework (LSDF) for the Cape Town CBD for public comment. Proposals to improve access within the CBD area, and interventions to make the area more pedestrian- and cycle-friendly, form part of the draft. Residents and business owners are encouraged to collaborate with the City in refining the draft LSDF. Read more below:
High resolution photos are available here: https://bit.ly/4dXG6zn
The LSDF is a spatial policy document intended to shape the CBD area’s future growth and development. Once approved, the LSDF will guide decisions about land use and development, density, transportation and urban design, and also inform public investment in infrastructure to facilitate the CBD’s transition into a more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, liveable and resilient space to the benefit of current and future generations of Capetonians.?
‘The LSDF intends to transform the CBD into an environment that is more people-centred with urban design interventions to improve general mobility and access for pedestrians, efforts to conserve heritage areas, a public land programme to inform land release in support of affordable housing opportunities, an appropriately scaled urban form and interface to encourage mixed use intensification.
‘The CBD is key to Cape Town’s resilience and economic health. This is a great opportunity for residents to help shape the future CBD. I invite all to attend one of the information sessions, and contribute to the conversation,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The following proposals feature in the draft LSDF, which is informing a shorter term mobility and access plan (CBDMAP) which is currently being developed.
The proposed vision is for the CBD’s lower order street network to be prioritised for pedestrians and cyclists, while the bulk of vehicular traffic must be accommodated on the higher order arterial routes.
A key priority of the scoping study is to implement an integrated transport and land solution. The study is currently underway and has not been concluded. This study is independent of the LSDF, but are mutually informing. ?
A transport analysis conducted as part of the scoping study revealed that the current freeway viaducts carry up to 7?000 vehicles per hour in both directions in the morning and afternoon peak periods.
The intention is to develop an optimum transport and land use solution to facilitate long-term investment and economic growth, while maximising the precinct’s inherit public amenity and development potential.
·?????? An underpass under Philip Kgosana Drive to link Barnham Avenue with Cauvin Road for improved access between Vredehoek, Zonnebloem, and District Six
·?????? To realign Brandweer Street with Aandbloem Street to allow for signalisation at this crossing, alternatively, an underpass should be investigated subject to funding availability
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·?????? Investigate the possibility of transforming upper Long Street between the intersections with Wale and Buitensingel as a pedestrianised ‘transit mall’ given the current land use activity and nightlife along this stretch
·?????? Investigate the proposal to deviate traffic at night along Keerom Street to facilitate the closure of Long Street from Dorp Street to Green Street
The intention is to implement interventions at pedestrian hotspots to manage conflict with vehicular movement, and to improve pedestrian safety. These could include different surfaces like paving, signalling giving preference to pedestrians, narrower lanes, sidewalk bump-outs, and raised pedestrian crossings or intersections.
·?????? The classification of roads as freeways, major mobility routes, minor mobility routes, transit malls, and living streets where higher order routes will facilitate mobility and access, and lower order routes will accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and where traffic is ‘deprioritised’
·?????? Develop a parking strategy that will support the transition to a more people-centred environment with the removal of at-grade public parking from identified public spaces and squares in favour of people-centric and greener spaces; and the development of park-and-ride facilities on the periphery of the CBD
·?????? Consider strengthening cycling links, for example at the fan walk along Somerset Road with the CBD via the V&A Waterfront, create a north-south spine for bicycles along Heerengracht, Adderley Street, and Government Avenue; improvements along Woodstock Main Road, and so forth
‘The draft LSDF’s primary objective as it relates to pedestrians and cyclists is to, ideally, arrive at a ‘car free’ CBD in future where the freeways, major mobility routes, and minor mobility routes facilitate vehicular access to and from the area, and where the inner-grid of lower order streets gives priority to pedestrians and cyclists. This will not happen overnight as public transport and passenger rail in particular, will have to be fully functional and efficient. However, it is important to keep this objective in mind as we are refining the spatial vision for the CBD of 2040,’ said Alderman Andrews.
The study area is divided into eight precincts, each with its own characteristics, constraints, and opportunities namely De Waterkant, Convention District, Mid-City, Company Gardens, East Foreshore, Cape Town Station, East City, and Lower Gardens. The LSDF provides development guidelines for each precinct in terms of its urban form, approach towards height management, and character assessment.
The draft LSDF is available on the City’s website.
How to comment:
‘I encourage residents and property owners to be part of this process, to submit comments and attend the information sessions. It is in everybody’s interest to get involved and contribute to the discussion. Your input matters, and we will take this into account as we finalise the draft LSDF once the public participation process has been concluded,’ said Alderman Andrews.
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Image Captions: The draft LSDF for the CBD-area proposes interventions at pedestrian hotspots to manage conflict with vehicular movement, and to improve pedestrian safety. These could include different surfaces like paving, signalling giving preference to pedestrians, narrower lanes, sidewalk bump-outs, and raised pedestrian crossings or intersections, such as along Shortmarket Street. Ald. Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, took a walk in the CBD to see what impact the proposals may have.
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Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Jason Love, Executive Support Officer to the Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Cell: 072?161?4037, Email: [email protected] (Please always copy [email protected])
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