Oliver Page

Equity Impacts and Challenges of Highway Access Management in an Emerging Economy: South Africa at the Crossroads

As a middle-income country, South Africa realizes that it cannot build its way out of every transportation challenge that it faces. Alternative interventions have a role to play in optimizing the efficiency of the present transportation network while ensuring that the benefits from this optimization are distributed equitably. The implementation of the proposed Guidelines on Road Access Management in South Africa is one such intervention that may equitably improve the transportation environment. This paper describes the evolution and status quo of access management in South Africa, assesses the concept and purpose of access management from an equity perspective, considers the efficacy of implementing national access management guidelines while honoring the equity principles contained in the South African constitution and other civil laws and regulations, and assesses a selection of access management techniques with respect to their potential equity impacts. The paper identifies a selection of obstacles tha...

OVERVIEW OF FREIGHT FLOW DATABASES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Freight flow databases and their development have had a checkered history in South Africa. The private and public sectors both accept that such a resource is needed, and numerous attempts have been made to establish one. However, there is no freight flow database that fulfills all needs potential users would have. An overview of the status quo of freight flow databases in South Africa is given. The organizations involved in development of this resource are identified. An understanding of why longterm sustainability of freight flow databases has not been achieved is presented through an exploration of the shortcomings faced by agencies wanting to establish such a resource. The challenges that could affect the success of freight flow databases are presented. It is concluded that the development of freight flow databases has passed its initial stages, and the need for establishment of an all-inclusive database is evident. Nevertheless, agencies involved in freight flow database development have been negatively affected by increased competition for fewer resources. Sustainable development, therefore, will require innovative approaches for establishing freight flow databases, potentially through maximizing the application of information technology.