Cable car transportation plan for Durban

URBAN regeneration specialist and Berea-based investor, Jonny Friedman, is passionate about improving the city of Durban, so it’s no surprise that his recent study visit of South American cities has left him inspired with some exciting ideas to transform Durban, making it a better place to live, work and visit while at the same time creating employment opportunities.

One of these is a ‘blue-sky’ proposal that will see an urban cable car transportation network connecting The Point, South Beach and Florida Road.

“I visited 11 different South American cities, from Bogota to Lima to Buenos Aires, and toured a number of large and small urban regeneration projects and movements in each city.”

Friedman said La Paz in Bolivia was one of the most amazing cities he explored with local guides.

He said the density of the city was overwhelming.

“A population of 2.3 million people live in a relatively small area and every conceivable form of transportation is used – narrow lanes for walking, bicycles and scooters through to large highways which carry the main motorised transportation veins around the city,” he said.

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He said one of the most impressive forms of transportation was the cable-car network called Mi Teleférico (“My Cable Car”) which opened in 2014 and soars high above the city, connecting and transporting people around the city rather like the underground system in London.

Currently eight lines are in operation with 25 stations covering just under 17 miles, with three more lines in the planning stage.

It is the longest and highest urban cable car network in the world.

“Cable car or gondola cable car transportation is not a new idea – the first transporting people was invented in the 1860s in California and we have seen cable cars in European ski resorts since the early 1900s. In latter years many cable car systems, when retired from ski resorts, are sold on to cities around the world who need an efficient, low-carbon and eco-friendly footprint transportation solution,” he said.

Friedman said tremendous advancements have been made in electrical solar power which can provide clean, free power to ensure that cable cars operate, adding that they are also efficient in transporting large numbers of individuals at a regular and safe rate.

“It is a very exciting time for Durban with the new mayoral office starting their administration under the leadership of Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and Deputy Mayor Belinda Scott. The city of Durban, with its valleys and hills, is an ideal location for this system of transportation. The city would need to conduct a formal research and viability study, but we suggest the first cable car lines should connect The Point, South Beach and Florida Road,” he said.

Friedman said these two lines were short enough routes (around 2.5km and 3km) to be viable, achievable and expandable.

“The Point would then be better serviced and connected to the city and South Beach with the suggested old drive in site offering around 800 car-parking spaces which would provide revenue to the city and solve the parking problems on Florida Road. The current food, drink and retail offering on Florida Road can easily welcome many, many more visitors. With people easily transported from one sector to the other, this would solve some of the congestion and parking problems and would create an estimated 200+ much needed new jobs and employment opportunities,” he said.

Friedman said the project would require a public/private collaboration and partnership to ensure that it was commercially self-sustaining over a long term, but the pilot would offer Durbanites the opportunity to test and become familiar with the concept of cable cars as a form of transportation.

“The pilot route needs to be something we know we can do and needs to be able to rapidly expand – we have earmarked municipal property available that could house the landing pads at all three landing points. Connecting the Point, South Beach and Florida Road hubs directly would open up endless opportunity and would have the capacity to transport thousands of people per day.”

Commenting on the proposal, Rashiq Fataar, Head of the think-tank Our Future Cities and Future Durban, said: “We have much to learn from South American cities as many have a similar GDP per capita to South African cities, but have recently achieved so much more than we have. South American cities offer innovative public spaces which have socially transformed communities to much bigger ideas, like cable-car transportation, as well as making key decisions such as placing the best civic infrastructure in the areas that need it the most.”

Commenting on the idea, Cheryl Johnson of Save Our Berea said: “eThekwini has seen unprecedented rural to urban migration since the first democratic elections in 1994. Informal settlements have sprung up all over the city but residents must either walk or take costly transport to distant work, school and recreational facilities. An aerial cable car system will connect low-income residents to the city and beaches, reduce transportation costs and introduce a ‘fun’ aspect to people moving. It will also enhance the public space, contribute to shaping a more inclusive society and will improve the quality of life for all our people.”

You can learn more by direct messaging on www.Facebook.com/FloridaRoadDurban

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