Transport Infrastructure
GENERAL
The Council believes that all transport infrastructure developments should be implemented after extensive consultation with all interested parties.
POLICY STATEMENTS
MACRO TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FORUM
In the interest of long-term development of transport infrastructure in South Africa, it is recommended that a Macro Transport Infrastructure Forum (MTIF), consisting of representatives of all relevant parties be established for South Africa. This would optimise the political and economic objectives of the country. The MTIF would have a responsibility to collaborate with the Government of the day, to determine a strategic focus regarding transport infrastructure in South Africa. This strategic focus would then be dealt with through the MTIF. The MTIF would then pursue the development of a macro plan. On the one hand, the MTIF would, on a regular basis, provide revised/adjusted infrastructural development plans for the country. This would on an ongoing task taking into account social, political and economic trends in Southern Africa. On the other hand, the MTIF would serve as a forum for debate on principles, priorities and guidelines. As such, it is foreseen that the MTIF would have three sub committees specifically addressing these issues.
A) SUB COMMITTEE ON PRINCIPLES
Although the broad representation, as outlined above, would contribute to the determination of principles, it does seem as if these principles would mainly be forthcoming from government, in terms of its responsibility to the county and its people. The principles that would form a working base for this sub-committee are the following:
Value
Evaluation system
Demand vs social services/responsibility
Regulatory framework
B) SUB COMMITTEE ON GUIDELINES
In terms of the broadly based representation, inputs would most probably be forthcoming from industry represented on the sub-committee on guidelines, which would be used to formulate guidelines regarding the long-term development in terms of economic principles as well as specific matters affecting the economy.
C) SUB COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES
A sub-committee of the MTIF for the administration of priorities would research specific needs and priorities to be submitted to the MTIF.
MACRO PLAN
The MTIF would then, in accordance with the above principles, guidelines and priorities, develop a macro plan or framework for infrastructural development in South Africa. The MTIF should be free to co-opt relevant expertise as and when needed.
Although this forum's main priority will lie in the development of cargo transport infrastructure in Southern Africa, it is the view of the Council that similar Forums could exist for all categories of transport, for instance a Macro Road Traffic Forum, Macro Land Transport Forum and Macro Passenger Transport Forum, etc. The principles therefore apply to all the policy options as per the White Paper.
INTER/MULTIMODALISM
The Council fully supports the concept of inter/multimodalism. This concept should be further promoted by the principles above.
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