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