Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has commissioned Arup South Africa to develop a master plan illustrating the potential development of three of its metro stations’ precincts – Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.

Building on the firm’s understanding of the potential contained in the precincts surrounding passenger stations, as evinced in its London and Toronto case studies, Arup SA will review the economic need around each station precinct and provide a multi-disciplinary plan that could unlock the area and provide sound, implementable projects.

“This is the first time that there will be such an undertaking in South Africa,” explains Nico Venter, leader of Integrated Urbanism at Arup SA. “This is not a general bulk massing approach, which adds density to a station without any understanding of the dynamics of the area. This project reviews the needs and constructs of passenger rail traffic in major metropolitan areas, reviews the linkages between other transport nodes, retail and commerce and then makes commercial sense of the development of the land as a long-term investment, while regenerating the city.

“From the master plan, an integrated approach can emerge that views a rail station as a hub that attracts development and serves the travelling public. Imagine if you will a station that provides retail, social and leisure facilities to commuters, incorporating office and meeting spaces that enable travellers from various public transport modes the ability to connect and access opportunities and facilities. A mobile health facility, a library, a long-term storage space – the possibilities are endless.

“The idea is to integrate the station’s activities with those of the city – to draw in pedestrians, taxi commuters, long-distance bus passengers and commuters – and create a transport hub, not just a ‘railway station’. From this, urban regeneration can flow outwards into the city and unlock development.

“The key here is to provide PRASA with a master plan that can be realistically commercialised and optimise the development potential of the land it has in and around its stations – a complete departure from many of the previous strategies, which sought to develop bulk without intermediate attainable goals,” concludes Venter.

Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers and technical specialists that makes up the heart of the creative force of many of the world’s most prominent projects in the built environment and industry. Arup provides influential thought processes, marrying global factors with local needs to create strategies that are efficient, exciting and practical.
Good planning is at the heart of regenerating cities, towns and rural areas to establish long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability. For more information, go to www.arup.com/Global_locations/South_Africa.aspx.

Issued on behalf of: Arup
Contact: Charlotte Middleton
Associate | Marketing & Communications Manager
Tel:  +27 11 218 7885
Cell:  +27 82 377 1212
Fax:  +27 11 218 7601 
Email:  charlotte.middleton@arup.com
Website:  www.arup.com
Date: 08 January 2015

Issued by: Freelancers Writing Services
Contact: Gwen Watkins
E-mail: gwen@freelancers.co.za
Website: www.freelancers.co.za