SHORT- TERM ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT STRATEGY Department of Transport Presentation to the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons, 07 September 2007

Outline of the presentation Background - legislative directives Processes and Consultations Challenges Objectives and principles Target group Strategic interventions + KPAs Governance + Funding Way-forward Department of Transport

Background Legislations, Policies & Strategy Documents Chapter 2 of the Constitution, 1996 on Bill of Rights Sec 9 = sub-section(3) Equality, Sec 10 = Human dignity White Paper on National Transport Policy, 1996 MSA-Action Agenda, National Land Transport Transitional Act, 2000 National Land Transport Strategic Framework Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 White Paper on Integrated National Disability Strategy, 1997 Department of Transport

Consultations Consultation process depts=[OSDP, Social Development, Stats SA, Home Affairs], Operators= [SARCC, Shosholoza Meyl, Metrorail,Sekuma, Putco] = Metropolitan municipalities=[ Ethekhwini, Tshwane] Pilot projects +Recommendations DFID study on technological vehicular designs +Recommended local bus designs DPTA, SAFCD Taxi Integration of governmental processes = HANIS project Road to Safety Strategy + Arrive Alive Awareness Department of Transport

Consultation… Data collection to determine the extent of needs and public T gaps within the current system Undertake a review and strategy development exercise in metros Map out the strategy and identify strategic options for implementation Review international responses and align with local practical actions Develop a detailed strategic plan for further roll-outs Integrate actions and policy directions from transport structures [LTCC, RTCC, COTO, MINCOM] Department of Transport

Challenges Lack of policy on Accessible transport Lack of commitment by politicians, heads of departments, institutions, civil society Lack of capacity and technical skills at local government level; Lack of common definition on “disabled people” Department of Transport

Challenges… Current structural design  Land-use /development planning and transport planning  Physical infrastructure and interior of the vehicles  Implement Non-motorized transport planning guidelines  Waterways and airline services to make provision for accessible facilities Operational challenges  Transport services not yet demand-responsive  Dedicated transport services not fully meeting the needs of the disabled people, and has proved to be very expensive  No proper coordination with other modes Department of Transport

Challenges… Lack of data: categories of disability and geographical location, need i.t.o.modal split Inadequate funding for a fully- integrated transport system Department of Transport

Challenges cont…… Additional Operational challenges  Municipal buses not operative on Sundays  Public address systems and communication aids [billboards and audible announcements]  Attitudinal challenges both drivers and public  Technical and mechanical skills of retrofitted lifts Lack of data for planning and decision-making purposes Inadequate funding hence re-prioritization of plans and a phased-approach Department of Transport

Objectives + Principles Objectives To integrate accessible transport into the public transport system To promote the provision of accessible transport across all modes To provide a barrier-free public transport service and related infrastructure Principles Accessibility ( universal access), affordability, pragmatism, incremental implementation, integration, empowerment + coorperation Department of Transport

Target group 3 Categories of vulnerable groups Life cycle passengers: children, pregnant women, temporary disabled people, elderly Passengers with sensory impairment Signage passengers Breakdown of people with disability Four groups: physical disability, sensory impaired, intellectual disability and others [physically frail due to old age, chronic diseases, polio or similar disadvantage, illiterate, foreigners, etc] Department of Transport

Interventions Spatial targeting and transport planning = strategic accessible network and corridors Reform the current structural design(fully accessible pedestrian networks linking common trip origins and destinations with the accessible PT route). Operations and technological designs=All land based public transport modes are being targeted [passenger–rail, buses, mini-taxis in the short -term] Department of Transport

Interventions… Discussions on water transport and airlines service providers Capacity building with TETA and organisations of /for disabled people Marketing and information management system Department of Transport

Travel Chain

Interventions + KPAs Complementary interventions: Adoption of Accessible T Strategy by MINCOM Implementation of at least 2 accessible transport corridors by municipality A’s by end of 2004/05 financial year Implementation of at least 2 accessible transport corridors by municipality B’s by end of 2006/07 Full access to refurbished railway stations, interchanges, pedestrian environment by 2005/06 Improvements to all elements of travel chain at Key accessible corridors by 2006/07 Department of Transport

Interventions + KPAs….. Low cost modifications, i.e Class 1 improvements=all land T modes: ( new bus contracts 2003)( class1 +2 on taxi fleet 2005) (improvements of rail passenger transport facilities for short and long distance by 2005) Upgrading of old facilities and building of all new facilities + ito Road maintenance programme (2005) Continued support of dedicated transport services(ongoing Installation of public address systems at key accessible corridors and major public interchanges(2005) Research and pilot appropriate technologies in other areas, including Rural municipality C (2004) Department of Transport

Interventions + KPAs… Revise NMT infrastructure planning guidelines(2004) Increased accessibility and easy mobility to public transport and Improved visibility of public transport services for passengers with disability Improved participation of people with disability in social and economic mainstream [empowerment] Increased funding to support accessible transport programmes Department of Transport

Governance Commitment of resources by all stakeholders Institutional support to implementing authorities Effective communication and coordination mechanism [Improve operational efficiency: internal transport system + developmental effectiveness] Awareness programme targeting the drivers and abled-passengers Establishing and oversight body and law enforcement Department of Transport

Funding sources Infrastructure grants (DORA) and equitable shares Bus subsidies and passenger rail funds Public transport infrastructure and Systems Grant DoT’s budget on the taxi recapitalization programme Rail Safety Regulator financial support Partnerships Education on Arrive Alive: DoT and Provincial support Cost-sharing in line with identified responsibilities: Provinces, Municipalities and some of the operators Department of Transport

Way Forward  Integration of Key Performance Areas into the Public Transport Strategy’s Action plan  Coordinate implementation processes through the internal and external stakeholders’ task team which was formed in July 2007  Roll-out the accessible transport in all modes  Complementary processes: oSARCC is implementing accessible strategy Department of Transport

Way Forward…  PT subsidization / funding mechanisms streamlined  Use the costing model on accessible transport for transport planning and integrated network/corridor development  Develop an accessible transport policy Department of Transport

Thank you Department of Transport The End