Mayor Parks Tau\u2019s State of the City address has emphasised the city\u2019s commitment to the Corridors of Freedom programme which will bring work and amenities closer to all citizens.<\/p>\n
Johannesburg Mayor Executive Mayor, Parks Tau believes the Corridors of Freedom programme is one of the ways\u00a0to promote\u00a0a \u201cnew economic democracy\u201d as the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) implements spatial justice in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
Mayor Tau, delivering his 2016 State of the City address at the Turfontein Racecourse, highlighted Johannesburg’s commitment to the Corridors of Freedom programme which will translate the City\u2019s vision into glass and concrete.<\/p>\n
Mayor Tau said the Corridors of Freedom programme is bringing new life to Fleurhof and South Hills, to Kliptown and Jabulani, to Turffontein and Rosettenville.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the student halls and shopping squares of Empire Road, to Randburg, Jabulani, Orlando East and Park Station, the Corridors of Freedom are bringing new mixed-use change all along the Louis Botha Corridor, connecting the Inner City, Orange Grove, Alexandra and Sandton,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Corridors of Freedom programme intends\u00a0to\u00a0change the shape of Johannesburg in the future, making it consist of well-planned transport arteries linked to interchanges where the focus will be on mixed-use development.<\/p>\n
Mayor Tau says that as the City develops the Louis Botha Corridor with the rollout of Rea Vaya Phase 1C, the redevelopment of the Paterson Park node in Orange Grove and Norwood has already started. \u201cWe are rebuilding a state-of-the-art clinic as part of a high-rise commercial space – redeveloping the public recreation and sports facilities and\u00a0we have\u00a0started with the massive revitalization of Paterson Park and its waterways,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Tau said\u00a0the plan\u00a0is about multi-storey buildings rising along the corridor,\u00a0combining commercial space, green-space, recreation and cultural amenities, market-rate rentals and social housing. \u201cThis means more people across a range of incomes are able to live richer lives much closer to where they can live, work and play,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The Corridors of Freedom programme, adopted in 2013,\u00a0is key to Mayor Tau’s Growth and Development Strategy 2040.<\/p>\n
Three Corridors have been identified and the first one, Empire-Perth – which runs along western parts of the city, including areas such as Parktown, Richmond, Melville, Coronationville and Westbury – is currently undergoing a naming and branding process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed, such a renewal is happening exactly where we now stand \u2013 at the heart of the Turffontein Corridor. We are converting the central part of De Villiers Street into a linear park along which retail, small-scale trading and a range of other uses will prosper, with dedicated areas for those cycling and walking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Tau believes this will create new, street-level life in this area. \u201cAs our new economic democracy rises, so will Turffontein,\u201d Mayor Tau said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Tau added that the backbone of the Corridors of Freedom and the enabler of access to rising economic democracy is reliable, affordable and dignified public transport.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Rea Vaya Phase 1A and 1B began quality services between Soweto, Riverlea, Noordgesig, Westbury, Auckland Park and the CBD. Currently our passenger numbers are over 50 000 per day. Our trunk route services are almost 100% full during peak hours,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The City, in support of the Louis-Botha corridor, is currently implementing the third phase of the Rea Vaya system extending it to Alexandra, Sandton, Midrand, Ivory Park and Randburg.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will include three new iconic bridges over the M1, two dedicated for walking and cyclists and the third for Rea Vaya. At the Sandton CBD a dedicated loop for all forms of public transport is under construction and dedicated cycling and wider sidewalks are being completed,\u201d Mayor Tau said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will transform Sandton from a car-centred hub into one which can be easily and safely accessed by all commuters,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Central to the introduction of the Rea Vaya system has been the empowerment of over 400 previously disadvantaged public transport operators, who became shareholders and managers of the Bus Operating Companies.<\/p>\n
According to Mayor Tau, \u201cThe turnover of the two existing bus companies over the past two years has been R620-million. This, too, is part of our new economic democracy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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