Is the chosen MyCiTi route viable?

Colin Arendse, Wynberg

Your article “Bus route win for City” (Southern Mail, February 15) is a sad day for democracy in our country.

The claim by Brett Herron that “this victory confirms the City’s assertion right from the start that we have followed a comprehensive public participation process” is confusing given that this process only commenced after the South Road residents hauled the City to court for forcing through their plans without any consultation.

What is even more confusing is that City staff opened these public meetings with a statement that they were information sharing sessions only. So where, exactly, is the “consultation”?

To date, the City has failed to provide any tangible proof that the alternative route of Rosmead Avenue via Broad Road into the existing Wynberg Transport Interchange would not be a viable cost saving option. There has also been no cost analysis to convince ratepayers that building a brand-new highway is the only option as opposed to the alternative route.

The destruction of houses that have been standing for more than four decades would also be a complete waste of taxpayer’s money in light of national government’s stance that the bus rapid transport system should utilise existing infrastructure only, that is existing roads.

To build a brand new unwanted highway that is going to run parallel to South Road and end up in the middle of Plumstead Main Road, more than a kilometre away from an existing transport hub does not make any sense. Surely it will cost commuters more to travel back to the Wynberg interchange to connect with other modes of transport?

The only inference that one can draw from all of this is that certain contractors will benefit handsomely should they win the tender to either build a brand-new highway or new residential units should the route not proceed via South Road after all.