Morojele-Zwane, Lerato and Gumbo, Trynos and Dumba, Smart (2022) Pathways to Effective Public Participation for Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Development: Experiences of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. Mobility, Knowledge and Innovation Hubs in Urban and Regional Development. Proceedings of REAL CORP 2022, 27th International Conference on Urban Development, Regional Planning and Information Society. pp. 577-591. ISSN 2521-3938
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Text (Pathways to Effective Public Participation for Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Development: Experiences of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project)
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Abstract
World cities, particularly in the global south, have been experiencing rapid urbanisation. Seemingly, rapid and high urbanisation levels that have been experienced are forcing governments at all levels to plan and implement transport infrastructure that meet the ever incerasing travel demand. Coincidentally, sustainability discourses have been gaining momentum in the past few decades. At the heart of the quest to develop and manage sustainable and inclusive transport infrastructure is the adherence and promotion of public participation throughout the project life cycle. If the effectiveness of public participation is not monitored, such processes are perceived to be limited to simply informing the public or manipulation of the public and controlling of planning outcomes by authorities. Consequently, this paper explores the different types of public participation experienced during the conceptualisation, planning, implementation and management of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP). The work adopted a qualitative research approach wherein an exploratory reseach design was applied in the GIFP case study in South Africa. We sought to get insights into the extent and scope of engagement of stakeholders throughout the GFIP project lifecycle. Research findings reveal that the public outcry over the GFIP electronic payment tolling (e-tolling) resulted in defiance of the payments. The e-toll debate in Gauteng has caused widespread criticism and this strong response to the method of road levy rests on the perception that decision makers undertook insufficient public participation. Besides the statutory public participation requirements executed in terms of the applicable by-law, public engagements were perceived to have not been effective, yet the user-pay scheme makes the user or public an important component of the project. Future studies are necessary for assessing the public participation from conceptualisation, not after the implementation of plans. This study reviews a project already implemented and it might be necessary to analyse a project before implementation so that processes involved are analysed during the real-life cycle. The public participation process must be interrogated before project commencement and future research is necessary.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Public, stakeholder, participation, urbanisation, sustainability, transportation, infrastructure |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications |
| Depositing User: | The CORP Team |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Nov 2022 13:12 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Dec 2022 14:21 |
| URI: | http://repository.corp.at/id/eprint/889 |
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