Cape Town development engineer Gareth Ramsay has put forward a bold new plan to address the city’s transport challenges, an elevated ‘sky train’ system connecting the CBD to the Atlantic Seaboard.
Ramsay says this futuristic rail line could ease traffic, boost urban development and offer a long-term solution to congestion in areas like Sea Point and Green Point.
His vision includes integrating the new rail line with Cape Town’s famously unfinished Foreshore Freeway Bridge, turning it into a key part of the city’s transport network, as Business Tech has reported. However, the City of Cape Town has already dismissed the plan, citing high costs and financial impracticality. Rob Quintas, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, said a sky train is not part of the city’s current transport plans, calling the costs ‘prohibitively expensive’ and unsustainable without long-term subsidies.
Ramsay disagrees, arguing that the proposal hasn’t been properly assessed. He believes city officials have failed to meaningfully engage with or evaluate the plan before shelving it. He’s not opposed to rejection if it’s well-informed but says ignoring it outright isn’t in Cape Town’s best interest.
Cape Town’s current public transport strategy focuses on expanding the MyCiti Bus system, which city officials say is more feasible. However, Ramsay claims the MyCiti network can only do so much given the city’s narrow roads and existing traffic. He notes that buses often get stuck in the same congestion they’re supposed to solve and can’t efficiently handle surges during peak times or big events.
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The engineer argues that a high-capacity sky train system could move the same number of people in just two minutes, an attractive option for a growing city with strained infrastructure. He points to the proposed development of the Three Anchor Bay site, which would further increase pressure on roads. That site, estimated to be worth R700 million, could partially fund the initial stages of the rail project, he suggests.
Ramsay also disputes the idea that rail projects should be avoided due to subsidies, saying the MyCiti service itself is heavily supported by national funds. In his view, the social and economic benefits of a sky train, including reduced commute times and lower emissions, justify the cost.
With Cape Town’s population and development showing no signs of slowing, Ramsay believes it’s time to look beyond short-term fixes. He insists that while a sky train may come at a steep price, the city can’t afford to ignore future-focused solutions.
‘The real question is not whether we can afford to build it, it’s whether we can afford not to,’ he said.
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