SARCC METRORAIL

SPECIAL NEEDS PASSENGERS PRESENTATION

7 SEPTEMBER 2007

SPECIAL NEEDS PASSENGERS

· POLICY

· DESIGN GUIDELINES

Presentation Outline

· Who are SNP's?

· Prevalence of SNP's

· Legislative Background

· Response by SARCC / Metrorail

· Concept of Total Service

· Key Draft SARCC SNP :- Policy Statements, Fundamental Premises, 4 Key Areas for Improvements, Level of Facility to be Provided

· Proposed Priority Networks & Identification of Key Stations

· Way Forward - This Project

· Project Schedule - Timeline

Who are SNP's?

Moving South Africa - The Action Agenda identified SNP's as:

· Life Cycle Passengers:

Users who have special transport needs as a result of normal life cycle stages (i.e. children between ages 5 - 14yrs, pregnant women, parent with pram, passenger with heavy luggage, elderly over 65yrs)

· Impairment Passengers:

Users with physical or cognitive impairments and disabilities for whom special assistance, adapted technologies and special safety requirements are necessary (i.e. wheelchair, deaf, blind)

· Signage Passengers:

Users who for reasons of illiteracy, age, or lack of familiarity with the language of the signage are unable to access enough information to use the transport system effectively

Prevalence of SNP's

· There is a significant lack of reliable information on the nature and prevalence of SNP's in South Africa

· Estimates of the magnitude can however be determined from Statistics South Africa's Census 2001 data which suggest some 14.4 million potential SNP's within SA

(Figures exclude temporary disability due to factors such as road accidents, illnesses, etc)

· This estimate represents almost 32% of the total SA population

· Of these, it is estimated that about 2.3 million (- 5% of SA population) are people with impairments

· The prevalence in the areas served by Commuter Rail can be assumed to be of the same order of magnitude

Legislative Background

· Legislation exists to provide for the equal provision of services to SNP's. This legislation includes:

- Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

- National Land Transport Transition Act (Act 22 of 2000)

- Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (Act 4 of 2000 and Act 52 of 2002)

The "burden of roof' lies with the respondent (the SARCC) and not the complainant

· Policy frameworks also exist that lends direction to improve public transport to be more accessible to SNP's. These include:

- Moving South Africa: The Action Agenda (May 1999)

- National Land Transport Strategic Framework 2006-2011 (Nov 2006)

- Integrated National Disability Strategy (Nov 1997)

- Draft Short Term Accessible Transport Strategy (Oct 2005)

Response by SARCC

In response to the legislation and policy, the SARCC has:

· Prepared a draft National Policy wrt SNP's

· Prepared a report on the status quo and adequacy gaps in the national commuter rail network

· Prepared Regional Implementation Plans for Durban, Tshwane, Western Cape and Witwatersrand

· Initiated this project to:

- Workshop and compile a SARee SNP Policy with selected stakeholders

- Prepare Design Guidelines to improve the accessibility of commuter rail in South Africa

Concept of Total Service

· A "Total Service" is one by which each passenger is provided with all components that they require to make their journey with ease of access, comfort and dignity

The "Total Service" concept requires the public transport system to be accessible to any independent traveler

· A "Total Service" can be achieved within the commuter rail system through the provision of:

- Fully accessible station facilities

- Level access to rolling stock

- Fully accessible rolling stock

Supported by:

- Appropriately trained assistance from the station operator

- Availability of accessible active and passive communication and information systems and materials

Key Draft SARCC SNP - Policy Statements

· SARCC acknowledges the access requirements of SNP's and undertakes to incorporate these requirements into the planning, provision and management of a rail system that is universally accessible to all its passengers over the longer term through incremental and continuous improvements

· SARCC subscribes to the principles of "universal access" that require that the commuter rail component of the travel chain supports independent travel through access to:

- appropriate and relevant passenger information

- station facilities and platforms

- gap bridging facilities and rolling stock that is fully accessible

· SARCC recognises that the implementation of the above will be restricted to its area of jurisdiction i.e. the commuter rail services assets

· SARCC recognises that the implementation will be done over the longer term, within current rail budgets and implementation programs

Key Draft SARCC SNP - Fundamental Premises

· SNP's are fit to travel independently given that the transport system is able to cater for their special needs

· SNP's are to be able to enjoy the same ease of access, comfort and dignity as any other passenger as per 'Total Service' it.o the Level of Facility developed in partnership with the South African Federal Council on Disability

· SARCC will seek partnerships with other stakeholders to make the entire travel chain fully accessible to all SNP's over the longer term

· In the medium term, the proposed Priority Network for SNP's (that had already been developed) has to be refined and 'aligned with the SARCC strategy

Key Draft SARCC SNP - 4 Key Areas for Improvement

SARCC will develop practices and measures to address the adequacy gaps identified within the four key areas

1- Passenger Information:

Both active (dynamic) and passive information through appropriate communication media, aiming to achieve the following:

- Confidence that a journey by commuter rail is possible

- Assessment of options available for commuter rail journey and guidance on journey itself

- Determination of cost of commuter rail journey

- In-travel rail related information available throughout journey Feedback from passenger about journey undertaken

Key Draft SARCC SNP - 4 Key Areas for Improvement

2- Station Facilities:

All station facilities owned and used by SARCC to be incrementally developed over time so as to:

- Provide SNP's with unobstructed passage to the station, within the station, onto and on the platforms

- Permit the full use of all public facilities within the station environment

- Integrate with other public transport modes as appropriate

Key Draft SARCC SNP - 4 Key Areas for Improvement

3- Bridging the gap between the platform and the trains:

Level access for all passengers will only be achieved over the longer term. Appropriate interim measures will be developed and applied to facilitate bridging of the gap in the shorter term.

4- Rolling Stock:

Ultimately all rolling stock owned and/or used by SARCC will be fully accessible and internally compliant to international best practice design requirements for SNP's. This will be achieved incrementally through the cost effective acquisition of new rolling stock and/or the appropriate upgrading and refurbishment of its existing fleet.

Key Draft SARCC SNP - level of Facility to be Provided

Identification of different levels of facilities (as agreed upon with the South

African Federal Council on Disability):

Level "0": Facility is not suitable for use by a particular group of SNP's or is not available for use

Level "1": Facility is suitable for use by a particular group of SNP's but has some restrictions on usage and/or some assistance (assisting aid and/or staff) is required from the service provider

Level "2": Facility is suitable for use by a particular group of SNP's without any restriction on usage or assistance being required, meaning the facility is accessible for this particular group of SNP's

Level "3": Facility is universally accessible, meaning that it is suitable for use by all groups of SNP's and other typical passengers without any restrictions on usage or assistance being required

Way Forward - This Project

1. Workshop Draft SARCC SNP Policy with selected stakeholders

· Presentation of draft policy to following stakeholders:

- SARCC / Metrorail Senior Management

- Department of Transport (Shareholding Ministry)

- If necessary, Regional Rail Commuter Forums in Gauteng, Western Cape and Durban where these committees have representation from the provincial and local governments and regional Metrorail operations

· Collation of written comments received and amendment of the draft policy

· Presentation to BOC for final approval

Way Forward - This SARCC/Metroraii Project (Cont)

2. Preparation of Draft Design Guidelines to improve accessibility of commuter rail in South Africa

· Preparation of draft design guidelines document

· Presentation of draft design guidelines to following stakeholders (workshop):

- SARCC / Metrorail Senior Management

- Office of Status of Disabled Persons in the Presidency (DSDP)

- Department of Transport

- Regional Rail Commuter Forums in Gauteng, Western Cape and Durban where these committees have representation from the provincial and local governments and regional Metrorail operations

· Collation of comments received and amendment of the draft design guidelines

· Presentation to SARCC/Metroraii EXCO for final approval

Project Schedule - Timeline

SNP POLICY

· Presentation to Engineering Cluster May 07

· Presentation to Operations Cluster June 07

· Presentation to DoT June/July 07

· Receive written comments & amend SNP policy Aug 07

· Finalisation of Draft SNP policy Aug/Sept 07

· Submission to BoC for Approval Sept 07

DEVELOP DESIGN GUIDELINES

· Preparation of Draft Design Guidelines Sept 07

· Presentation of Draft Design Guidelines to OSDP May 07

· Workshop Design Guidelines with Stakeholders June/Sept 07

· Finalisation of Draft Design Guidelines Nov 07

· Submission to EXCO for Approval Dec 07

THANK YOU

ANNEXURES

Legislative Background

Legislation exists to provide for the equal provision of services to SNP's This legislation includes:

· Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

· National Land Transport Transition Act (Act 22 of 2000)

· Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (Act 4 of 2000 and Act 52 of 2002)

· Constitution proclaims in the Bill of Rights that:

"The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth."

And that:

"everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected."

· National Land Transport Transition Act states that:

"The needs of special categories of passengers must be considered in planning and providing public transport infrastructure, facilities and services, and these needs should be met as far as may be possible by the system provided for mainstream public transport."

· Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act states that:

"No person may unfairly discriminate against any person on the ground of disability, including-

- Denying or removing from any person who has a disability, any supporting or enabling facility necessary for their functioning in society;

- Contravening the code of practice or regulations of the South African Bureau of Standards that govern environmental accessibility;

- Failing to eliminate obstacles that unfairly limit or restrict persons with disabilities from enjoying equal opportunities or failing to take steps to reasonably accommodate the needs of such persons."

· Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (cont):

Section 28 of the Act puts the obligation to eliminate discrimination on government and civil society:

The State, institutions performing public functions and all persons have a duty and responsibility, in particular to:

- Eliminate discrimination on the grounds of race, gender and disability

- Promote equality in respect of race, gender and disability…”

· Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (cont):

In terms of Section 13 of the Act:

"If the complainant makes out a prima facie case of discrimination-

- The respondent must prove, on the facts before the court, that the discrimination did not take place as alleged, or

- The respondent must prove that the conduct is not based on one or more of the prohibited grounds."

Hence the "burden of roof' lies with the respondent (the SARCC) and not the complainant.

Policy also exists that directs how to improve public transport to be more accessible to SNP’s. This policy includes:

· Moving South Africa: The Action Agenda (May 1999)

· National Land Transport Strategic Framework 2006-2011 (November 2006)

· Integrated National Disability Strategy (November 1997)

· Draft Short Term Accessible Transport Strategy (October 2005)

· Moving South Africa: The Action Agenda states that:

"By 2020, the transport system will meet the requirements of passengers with special needs, particularly, those with disabilities. This will be achieved within the mainstream public transport system, and where appropriate, through dedicated systems."

· National Land Transport Strategic Framework 2006-2011 states that:

"It is government policy to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities into the mainstream activities of society. Legislation requires government to take "reasonable" steps to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. In terms of transport, this should be achieved firstly by improving the user-friendliness of public transport for all users, and secondly by incrementally implementing the accessibility features specifically required to serve people with disabilities."