A comparison of integrated transport and spatial planning instruments : a case study of the Eden district municipality, Hermanus local municipality and Cape Town metropolitan areas

Abstract

In the field of city planning, a growing need exists for the integration of spatial development with transportation planning instruments. This study identifies issues related to the definition, evaluation and implementation of the integration of sustainable development and sustainable transportation within three types of municipalities. Significant issues that are explored include the various definitions of integration; the range of issues considered under notions of integration; the diverse perspectives on, and criticism of development and transportation integration analysis, as well as approaches to evaluating integration and transportation impacts on development. Furthermore, the study reports on the goals of each municipality, specifically with reference to sustainable public transportation decision-making; approaches to sustainable transportation, automobile dependency; land use; and finally, on sustainable transportation and development integration solutions. Approaches to spatial development used to focus on the organisation of land use issues, but this field is increasingly defined more broadly to include economic and social welfare, quality of human health/life and environmental integrity. From a sustainability perspective, a narrow definition of sustainable transportation tends to favour individual technological solutions, while a broader definition tends to favour more integrated solutions, including improved travel choices, economic incentives, institutional reforms, land use changes as well as technological innovation. Integration focuses on the teamwork required between the relevant departments as well as between levels or spheres of government, and often entails the implementation of nodal-corridor approaches. Sustainability planning may require changing the way people think about solutions to transportation problems in the future. The literature survey (Chapter 2) addresses a number of salient concepts, namely transportation and spatial development integration, public transportation and its orientated development, nodal-corridor development, as well as environmental and development relationships. Furthermore, an investigation into the legislative frameworks and policies is presented with emphasis on spatial development, transportation plans and node-and-corridors development (Chapter 3). This is followed in Chapter 4 by a report on an investigation into, and interviews held with representatives from the three municipalities (Hermanus local municipality, Cape Town metropolitan municipality and Eden district municipality) with reference to the integrated transportation plans (ITP) and spatial development frameworks (SDF) of these municipalities. This section reflects the opinions of relevant role-players regarding the central aspects of this study. Chapter 5 presents a summary of the study as well as a number of conclusions. In this chapter, planning recommendations are provided with the aim of advising municipalities on possibilities for the integration of sustainable transportation plans and spatial planning / development instruments.