Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg has budgeted R30bn for infrastructure development for the next three years, Mayor Parks Tau said on Thursday.
This would form part of an ambitious public transportation development programme dubbed "freedom corridors", he said in his state of the city address at Wits.
"Over the decade, we will introduce transport corridors connecting strategic nodes through an affordable and accessible mass public transit that includes both bus and passenger rail," said Tau.
He said mixed income housing, schools, offices and community facilities would be erected along the corridors.
This would eradicate previous settlement patterns, as well as slow down the uncontrolled spread of squatter camps around the city.
"Johannesburg will lead in South Africa and in Africa to link transport development with high density housing and create viable, sustainable and integrated communities," said Tau.
He said the design would diminish the use of private cars.
"Over time, we will eliminate the need for private vehicles as the city progressively moves towards an effective public transport system," he said.
This would not only change traffic patterns but also reduce carbon emissions, resulting in a healthier environment.
Tau said each resident had a right to an integrated and united city.
This would be achieved by reconnecting the divisions created by apartheid, he said.
