Key players have called for action against plans to have one lane each for general traffic in both directions in parts of Lynnwood and Atterbury Roads.
They said public anger at a Tshwane metro decision not to construct an additional lane for its bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in parts of the two roads should now be translated into public resistance.
Describing this as one of the worst potential traffic disasters to ever face the capital city, Democratic Alliance spokesman on transport matters, councillor Francois Bekker said his party would stop at nothing to bring the city council to its senses regarding this disastrous decision.
The Capital City Business Chamber (CCBC) agreed, saying that it was surveying the opinion of businesses and other interested entities.
The aim was to draft a constructive, comprehensive and all inclusive report and suggestions to Tshwane in an attempt to convince the metro to reconsider the decision.
“We cannot allow this decision to be implemented. Atterbury and Lynnwood Roads are the two main arteries for the movement of goods and services from the east to the west and should traffic on these already congested roads be further impeded, it could have severe implications,” said CCBC chief executive officer Fanie du Plessis.
He said the CCBC, together with the Tshwane Business Forum (TBF), had an agreement
with the metro to promote and market the city and to ensure the success of the city, its residents and business community.
According to Du Plessis, the TBF would conduct a survey among businesses and would then
compile a report to be given to the metro within about three weeks.
“The BRT system is a world trend and we fully support the proper implementation thereof
in the capital city. To get private vehicles off the roads and convince commuters to use a rapid bus service is in line with our thinking,” Du Plessis said, but stressed that this should not be
done to the detriment of business.
The decision to reverse the initial plan to turn Atterbury Road from Menlyn shopping centre
to where it meets Lynnwood Road in Menlo Park and Lynnwood Road up to Loftus
Versfeld into a three-lane road – two for general traffic and one for the A Re Yeng BRT in both directions – had been met with outrage by motorists and businesses in the affected area.
The decision to keep only two lanes for a 7km stretch in both directions – one for the BTR and a single lane for other traffic – was taken behind closed doors by the Tshwane Steering Committee and was mainly based on the prohibitive cost of building additional lanes.
Mayoral spokesman Blessing Manale, said tenders received for the construction of
an additional lane in both directions stated the cost at R88 million per kilometre. This amount was almost double the rate of the construction of other BTR construction sections from University Drive to Nelson Mandela Drive in the CBD.
On its part, the DA will hold a public meeting on 22 April at the Pro Arte High School to address the matter. The meeting starts at 18h00.
The public outcry because the metro had taken a decision behind closed doors to do
the “unthinkable in order to force through the BRT project”, was symptomatic of a community disillusioned with the local government, said Bekker.
“Not only can we not allow the principle of public participation to be eroded, we must insure that the Tshwane metro goes back to the drawing board so as to work out a plan that will be functional, practical and acceptable to the public.”
He said the public meeting would be an opportunity to articulate the public’s concerns, consider expert opinion and advice on the topic and to decide on how this matter must be dealt with in order to bring the metro to its senses.
“An obvious starting point will be to launch a petition. We urge the public to attend this meeting in great numbers – public anger must now translate into public resistance,” Bekker concluded.
The DA’s Duncan Baker said the decision had been taken without a Transport Impact Study
being done.
“Schools, businesses and residents east of Loftus will be badly affected by the traffic build-up should the additional lanes not be constructed.”
He said the decision was ill-informed and would cut off the eastern suburbs from Hatfield and the Gautrain as well as from the University of Pretoria.
“Remember the chaos and frustration when the access ramps for the N1 were built along with the widening of the bridges across the N1? That was temporary inconvenience. What is planned by Tshwane now is permanent inconvenience and disruption for all routes across the N1 for all the road users,” Baker warned.
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