The role of planning, design and social factors in the community acceptance of public transportation infrastructure

Abstract

Transportation infrastructure is critical to the socio-economic development of any region. Consequently, it commands the attention of both the private and public sectors. However, the provision of public transportation infrastructure like roads, bus terminals, and railways faces the serious challenge of non-acceptance by communities based on certain factors. This, in turn, affects the growth and development of such communities, be they rural or urban. Evidence from the literature suggests that social factors such as the location of the infrastructure project, the community’s trust or distrust of the project executioners, information dissemination about the project, integrity of the proposed project developer, as well as design factors like turning radius at junctions of roads, and traffic capacity are the major causes of community resistance to these infrastructure projects. Little scholarly attention, nevertheless, has been paid to the relationship that exists between these factors and the perception of projects by their host communities. This paper seeks to identify planning factors that influence community perceptions of infrastructure projects and examines the relationship between these factors and the perceptions of community members. The study was conducted using a survey research method that includes physical survey of road geometry, various elements of road transport infrastructure, and traffic survey, as well as a perception survey conducted among stakeholders and users of the road infrastructure. Public road infrastructure such as bus stations and taxi ranks located in the Central Business District of Bloemfontein, South Africa formed this study’s context for data collection. The quantitative data were analysed using relevant statistical methods and empirical models. Findings show that infrastructure location without threat to human health, increased job opportunities, reduced passenger waiting time, and reduced vehicle waiting time engender positive community perception towards public transportation infrastructure projects. It is believed that this study will enhance community engagement for improved and acceptable public transportation infrastructure in South Africa.