The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate has clarified that the recently reported “traffic congestion charge” will not be implemented now or in the near future.
This relates to the city’s proposed Travel Demand Strategy released earlier this month, which included a possible pricing to effect behaviour change over the long-term and reduce congestion on the roads.
The proposal also includes increased use of public transport, lift clubs, walking, cycling and remote working.
The City has noted with concern that recent media reports of the congestion charge are causing unnecessary alarm.
“- reports have misrepresented a single idea in our Revised Travel Demand Management Strategy, a document that maps our path to building a city with less congestion and more travel choices into the future.”
According to the Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, the strategy clearly states that the City would not consider or even investigate a congestion tax or charge until public transport is the most reliable and effective option to travel.
“We are investing heavily in Cape Town’s public transport offering but there is still a very long way to go before buses and trains are a reliable and attractive alternative to private cars.”
Quintas says, regardless, at this stage, there is not even a provision for congestion charging in national legislation.
As a forward-looking document, Quintas says it includes theoretical measures that could only be considered in the long term, based on studies of other world cities. However, only measures that are appropriate for the Cape Town of today will be implemented.
The Urban Mobility chief added that the congestion charge in the City’s current system would restrict access, not increase it, which is the opposite of their goal to make mobility more equitable for all Capetonians.
“We are asking residents to share their thoughts on measures that can realistically be implemented in the immediate future.”
Quintas says the directorate is proposing practical, positive measures to improve travel, including encouraging remote work and better access to local services, improving park & ride facilities to support public transport use, and making pedestrian and cycling experiences safer.
“Don’t let misguiding headlines stress you out,” added Quintas
READ MORE: City mulling peak-hour congestion charge to tackle traffic gridlock
