Cape Town: The Transport Planning and Network Management Department of the City of Cape Town hosted the National Department of Transport’s Universal Design and Access Planning Workshop (UDAP). It was established in 2010, the workshop brings together the Department of Transport, leading field experts and senior municipal transport officials to accelerate the implementation of Universal Access standards and advance inclusive public transport systems.
Reportedly, the gathering marked a decisive step towards ensuring that well-established policy translates into a lived, everyday reality for all.
Urban Mobility Executive Director of the City of Cape Town – Regan Melody said that the City of Cape Town extends its gratitude to the National Department of Transport for their vital role in ensuring accountability and driving progress toward universal access and inclusive public transport systems.
It was an honour for them to host the Universal Design and Access Planning (UDAP) workshop for this year. The City of Cape Town has long been committed to embedding Universal Access into the projects, and they continue to ensure that inclusive design is integral to every initiative they undertake, not an afterthought.
The first two days of the workshop featured presentations from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, which shared insights from its Integrated Public Transport System, followed by George Municipality, which showcased its scheduled public bus service, Go George. Mangaung, Msunduzi, the City of Cape Town, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni also presented their respective successes, challenges, and future plans in advancing Universal Access within their transport networks.
Delegates also participated in a site visit through the Cape Town CBD, highlighting the potential of retrofitting existing infrastructure to improve accessibility. The City of Cape Town has implemented upgrades at 86 locations in the CBD, including widened sidewalks, improved ramp access, relocated signal poles and signage, dropped kerbs, extended kerb build-outs at intersections and other accessibility enhancements.
The closing day included further presentations and a panel discussion featuring the Western Cape Network on Disability (WCND), followed by a Universal Access rail presentation by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). The workshop concluded with presentations from Rustenburg Municipality and Polokwane Municipality.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Urban Mobility – Councillor Rob Quintas said that it was a privilege to host technical experts, various Universal Access stakeholders and municipal leaders from the fellow Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) cities, including Nelson Mandela Bay, George, Mangaung, Msunduzi, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Rustenburg and Polokwane.
The collective participation at this year’s UDAP reflects the growing strength of ongoing intergovernmental collaboration in this sector. It underscores the shared commitment to seeing truly inclusive and universally accessible public transport services delivered in these metros.
Quintas said that he is looking forward to seeing this delegation return to Cape Town once the MyCiTi Phase 2A bus service is fully operational in a couple of years’ time, to experience firsthand how Universal Access has been the guiding principle shaping corridor design, station placement, pedestrian access routes and integration with surrounding neighbourhoods.