Public input needed for Cape Town freight strategy

CAPE TOWN – The City of Cape Town is updating its Freight Management Strategy to ensure the safe, efficient and reliable movement of goods while maintaining road accessibility for all users.

Members of the public and interested parties are invited to submit comments, recommendations or input on the strategy from now until Tuesday 31 March.

Mayco member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas explained the need for the update: “The current strategy, from 2016, laid a good foundation, but implementation was constrained by limited data, enforcement resources and mandates.”

The updated strategy provides direction on tackling emerging issues, including how goods movement affects city planning and road infrastructure, the increase in small delivery services known as micro-freight, trucks parking in unofficial areas, environmental impacts, and lack of compliance.

The City suggests shifting freight back to rail and greater use of the port’s after-hours offering to alleviate pressure on the road system.

“Freight is the movement of goods from one place to another,” said Quintas. “Think food, fuel, building materials and everyday products. All these must get somewhere, either by road, rail, sea or air.

“The question then is, how can this be done efficiently with minimal impact on you, on our road infrastructure and on the environment? The City wants to hear from anyone affected by freight transport, you, industrialists and all other interested parties such as the freight industry, truck owners, operators and drivers,” said Quintas.

Have your say

Comments, recommendations or inputs can be submitted by:

• Email UrbanMobility.CT@capetown.gov.za (quote reference 110252609);
• Visit www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay or www.capetown.gov.za/collaborate;
• Forms for written submissions can be obtained from your nearest subcouncil office or City library.

A summary of the draft freight management strategy will be available for viewing at the two above-mentioned websites.

The City’s Public Participation Unit will assist those who cannot read or write, live with disabilities or are from disadvantaged groups unable to submit written comments. Contact Zandile Mahlasela on 021 400 5501 or email Zandile.Mahlasela@capetown.gov.za.

For more information related to the draft strategy email UrbanMobility.CT@capetown.gov.za or contact the project manager on 021 400 9339.