Joburg invites comment on proposed managed traffic lanes

Joburg is seeking public comment on its draft policy on managed traffic lanes, which have been approved for public comment by the department of transportation.

Lanes dedicated to Rea Vaya buses in the Joburg CBD

The proposed policy suggests that designated traffic lanes should be introduced for different modes of transport in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and its impact on productivity and the City's residents, and ultimately to promote the use of public transport.

It also sets out the strategies to manage these traffic lanes and the implementation process, says Ian Boyd, the director of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) compliance in the department.

"The policy will set out the context, the conditions and criteria that the City should apply when determining if a managed lane should be introduced, what kind of managed lane, with what features and what conditions," the draft policy reads.

Boyd says an information session on the proposals will be held on Friday, 2 March at 10am in A Lecture Theatre at the Metro Centre, in Braamfontein.

The proposals identify high occupancy vehicle lanes, exclusive bus or truck lanes, access strategies, express lanes, by-pass lanes and ramp meters as some of the strategies that could be implemented.

"We need a future where public transport, walking and cycling are the modes of choice," says Boyd, quoting Joburg 2040.

The policy points out that managed lanes can be used to increase the average travel speed and decrease delays in travel time, facilitate seamless access to major economic nodes, increase the efficiency of the transport system, improve the performance and reliability of public transport, improve air quality and decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with traffic congestion.

"This will fulfill a number of City and mobility objectives," he says.

All residents, businesses, institutions and affected stakeholders are invited to comment on the proposed policy. Comments are open from 18 February to 2 March. Written submissions should be posted to Lisa Seftel, the executive director of transport, PO Box 31923, Braamfontein, 2000 or hand delivered to the eighth floor north, 66 Sauer Street, JRA Building, Corner Jeppe and Sauer streets, or emailed to ianb-AT-joburg.org-DOT-za.

www.joburg.org.za

Posted at 06:53AM Feb 09, 2012 by Editor in Cities and Towns  |  Comments[2]