Lessons from conversations with cities on public transport and spatial transformation

Abstract

The Cities Support Programme (CSP) is supporting cities in order to implement integrated public transport networks which become instruments of spatial transformation in ways that are measurable, reportable, and verifiable. The CSP has developed a systems dynamics simulation platform to assist cities to gauge the impact of their decisions on the behaviour of the built environment. Systems dynamics modelling is a proven platform for representing complex systems in the form of dynamic feedback loops. The CSP has used this tool to guide conversations in the cities for them to consider the choices they need to make, and how these choices affect the eradication of backlogs in the transportation system. The presentation will unpack the findings from the conversations held with 4 cities in South Africa, on how cities can use Integrated Public Transport Networks as instruments for spatial transformation.