Disquiet over MyCiTi bus route

Cape Town - As part of its ongoing consultation with residents in Wynberg and Plumstead, the City of Cape Town has agreed to answer their questions about the proposed MyCiTi route in writing.

The engagement forms part of Transport for Cape Town’s public information sessions about Phase 2A of the MyCiTi roll out, known as the Lansdowne/Wetton Road Corridor.

This project, expected to cost more than R4 billion, includes work on South Road, where 26 council-owned properties have been earmarked for demolition to make way for MyCiTi infrastructure.

The South Road Families’ Association lodged an application in the High Court to stop the city from evicting families and to consider alternative routes for Phase 2A of MyCiTi. Although the city has withdrawn its termination of lease notices, the association said it would only consider dropping legal action if there was “meaningful” engagement from the city.

The matter has been set down for September.

Meanwhile, the city has opened its arms to residents in a bid to deal with their concerns about proposed routes that will impact on parts of Plumstead and Wynberg.

Kristina Davidson, of the Wynberg Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association contacted Transport for Cape Town in June, asking for copies of several documents pertaining to the proposed new South Road and the Brodie Road couplet in Wynberg.

These included the user/passenger survey that was reportedly done of 26 000 households along the corridor and the date used to project the passenger numbers. Davidson said residents also wanted to see the study that was reportedly done by the city of alternative routes, as well as the comparative costs.

The city has said in statements and in information documents that 1.4 million people living in the metro south east and the south east would benefit from the project.

Davidson said residents also raised red flags about the expected use of the corridor. Davidson noted on the association’s website: “The (city’s) concept shows some bus stops along the couplet without any passengers alighting or boarding. What is the justification for building a complete new road at great cost to taxpayers and residents in the area, when no passengers are projected to use the bus?”

Davidson said residents were also concerned about the impact of the proposed route on historical cottages in the area. The city has therefore been asked to provide evidence of its heritage impact assessments to date.

There were also questions about pedestrian safety on South Road, where houses may have to be demolished to make way for MyCiTi infrastructure. Residents said there were several schools in the area that would be affected by the bus traffic.

The city had failed to consider the possible increase in crime if the Brodie Road couplet in Wynberg acted as a second Main Road, said residents. “Has any study been done to assess whether there will be an increase of crime and crime creep into the suburb?” the association asked.

Despite the decision to suspend demolitions, residents were still concerned about the future of their properties.

They therefore asked the city to confirm how many private residential and commercial properties still needed to be purchased along South Road and the Brodie Road couplet, and how many properties in total would need to be demolished when the project does go ahead.

Davidson said to date the city had not answered any of the questions, but had referred the association to existing documents on the transport plans, including the Integrated Public Transport Network Plan which was approved by council in 2014. The deadline for public comment is Sunday. But Transport for Cape Town said the corridor would only be launched in 2020, and extensive consultations would take place over the next few years.

anel.lewis@inl.co.za

Cape Arugs