The City has assured that another round of public participation will follow, ensuring that the voices of the community will help shape the final proposal.

The City said the primary objectives of the Mobility and Access Plan include improving walkability in the heart of the CBD, especially around public transport stations and terminus areas; promoting walking and cycling by creating a decongestion zone and diverting through-traffic onto bypass roads and ensuring safe crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, thus fostering a more pedestrian-friendly environment.

The plan introduces the concept of superblocks, reminiscent of initiatives seen in Barcelona, adapted for local context. This innovative approach aims to create zones where vehicular traffic is minimised while prioritising pedestrian and cyclist access.

The strategic elements outlined are ambitious yet essential for enhancing the CBD’s urban mobility framework. Enhancing public transport along key transit streets such as Darling and Adderley Streets; Shifting lower-order streets towards pedestrian-friendly spaces to encourage walking and lingering; Supporting economic growth along activity streets like Bree, Long, and Loop Streets; Retaining significant vehicular movement on high-order bypass routes and the foreshore freeway precinct.

The City said continued efforts to streamline the walking and cycling network are at the core of this plan. Quintas emphasised the importance of addressing conflicts between vehicular movement and pedestrian space, particularly through infrastructure such as superblocks and traffic calming measures at major crossings.

To complement the Mobility and Access Plan, the City intends to develop a parking strategy aimed at reducing private vehicle reliance and fostering a car-free environment within the CBD. This will likely include park-and-ride facilities located on the city's periphery, facilitating access without the burden of driving into the busy urban core.

A critical focus remains on the Foreshore Precinct, with an ongoing feasibility study probing the optimum transport and land-use solutions for this area. As peak hour traffic continues to flow through the existing freeway viaducts, efforts to balance vehicular access and public amenity are paramount.

“The primary objective is to ideally arrive at a ‘car-free’ CBD in the future,” Quintas said. “We're aiming for a scenario where vehicular access is managed through major mobility routes, while lower-order streets cater predominantly to pedestrians and cyclists.”

While the transition may take time and cannot occur overnight, the strategic directions laid out in the Mobility and Access Plan seek to align with improvements in public transport services, including the much-anticipated restoration of passenger rail services.

Residents who wish to contribute their input on the proposed Mobility and Access Plan, as well as the draft LSDF, can find all relevant documents and details on the City’s website at: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay.

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Have your say: Cape Town's draft Mobility and Access Plan open for comments