A fresh perspective on access,accessibility and mobility towards a smart,accessible transpport system:meeting the NLTSF vision and requirements for George's CITP using a dynamic transport model with land use integration

Abstract

In South Africa, municipalities are mandated to develop an Integrated Transportation Plan (ITP) every five years, with yearly updates, as per the National Land Transport Strategic Framework (NLTSF). Notably, the NLTSF vision highlights key aspects of Accessibility and Mobility. To fulfil this requirement, we introduced a novel Smart City framework, focusing on the crucial topics of supporting a thriving economy, promoting sustainable economic growth, providing safe mobility options, providing accessible mobility options, socially including all communities, and preserving the environment, which guided the creation of George Local Municipality’s ITP. This ITP features an innovative transport model spanning the George Local Municipality boundaries, distinct from traditional models, by integrating transport and land use down to individual land parcels. The model is dynamic, incorporating floating car data, open-source data, and uses simulation-based trip assignments. While the NLTSF doesn’t mandate such a model, it proved invaluable in forecasting future challenges and informed the development of George's new Roads Master Plan. Designed as a base model, it can be updated with various data sources over time, making it a versatile tool for land-use planning, contributing to George’s Integrated Development Plan and Spatial Development Framework. This model can also facilitate detailed analyses for specific intersections or road segments in relation to potential developments, thereby enhancing its utility for future urban planning.