People’s transport choices are shaped by safety, accessibility and socio-economic factors. Many African countries lack the infrastructure necessary to provide convenient, safe, reliable and sustainable public transport systems, leaving urban citizens with limited options. To make urban mobility more convenient, safe and accessible in African cities, integrating public transport into smart transportation infrastructure that leverages existing technology and innovative solutions will be key.
Public transport integration and digitalisation of transportation infrastructure considers elements within transport systems through a digital lens. It focuses on how stakeholders can leverage technology and data-driven approaches to meet policy goals and population needs. A good example of this is the City of Cape Town in South Africa, which is actively working towards integrating Public Transport Network (IPTN) and aims to create a more accessible and efficient public transport system. Some of their digital solutions includes the implementation of MyCiTi app for route planning, ticketing, and tracking real-time vehicle locations.
Implementing system-wide digitalisation is no small feat in cities where infrastructure deficits and funding are clear barriers. It requires a vision developed with a whole-system perspective, strategic investment decisions and a willingness to embrace continuous change. Collaboration across industries, disciplines, municipalities and even nations is essential to build resilient and adaptable transport networks for current and future generations.
It also calls upon those who advise, design, engineer and operate road infrastructure to prioritise the provision of inclusive, equitable and accessible digitised systems, making the benefits of digital transformation available to all. Today, the boundaries between vehicles, roads, communication networks and the users themselves have blurred, creating a dynamic, evolving ecosystem.
Gone are the days when vehicles and infrastructure functioned as separate entities. The synergy between technology, infrastructure and people will continue to drive innovations in road transport, especially as transport data becomes ubiquitous and more accessible. As African cities adopt technology that enables the collection and utilisation of more and better quality transport data, adopting innovations that facilitate the development of safer, greener, more reliable and more equitable transport systems must consider the interdependencies between technology, infrastructure and people.
Transport systems the world over face several challenges that necessitate this kind of change. Safety performance is plateauing, which limits progress toward Vision Zero - the aim for zero traffic fatalities and severe injuries, as well as safe and equitable transport for all. The environmental impact of road transport infrastructure poses a significant threat to ecosystem health and human wellbeing - constituting the highest proportion of overall transport emissions globally.
Accessibility and inclusivity are a significant consideration in Africa, as road transport infrastructure continues to act as a barrier to mobility for marginalised communities, thereby contributing to inequity. And given Africa’s rapid urbanisation and population growth trends, road infrastructure must adapt as more people move to urban centres in pursuit of economic, social and personal benefit.
Governments are facing a challenging financial situation with high interest rates and rapidly increasing costs in labour, materials and general service delivery. As a result, road transport infrastructure projects are grappling with constrained budgets and material scarcities limiting the capacity for governments to deliver on construction plans.
Clearly, the transition from analogue to digital road networks is crucial to Africa’s sustainable development. To make the transition successfully requires a whole-system approach to understand the impacts and dependencies between people, processes, places, data, technology and services. This holistic view enables system designers to identify and mitigate adverse impacts, providing for safer, more convenient, more equitable and more environmentally conscious systems.
A good example is WSP’s work on Digital Roads for National Highways in the UK. Recognising the challenges of achieving ambitious targets such as Net Zero emissions and Vision Zero for road safety, there was an imperative to transform the strategic road network. WSP was commissioned to create a vision for digital transformation of the strategic road network over the next 30 years, setting the strategy that would align the organisation and frame transformational change. The project successfully took Digital Roads from concept development stage to public launch and now forms a flagship program within National Highways. The benefits of Digital Roads permeate all aspects of design, construction, operation and customer experience and range from enabling safety improvements through to reducing carbon emissions, supporting a safer, smoother and greener road network.
To learn from international examples like this one, prioritising the development of skills and knowledge within Africa’s workforce will be key. Developing the necessary skills will allow stakeholders not only to enhance the immediate implementation of digital solutions but also cultivate a foundation for long-term success. Investing in human capital to navigate complexities and seize opportunities in the evolving transportation landscape is vital. Empowering individuals and organisations through development of capacity and capability paves the way for a future where innovation drives efficiency, safety and inclusivity across transportation systems.
Implementing digital transport infrastructure represents an opportunity to address some of the African continent’s critical infrastructure deficits by implementing modern networks that can effectively respond to diverse social and economic challenges. The journey calls for strategic investment and a willingness to embrace continuous change.
This article follows John Rammutla’s participation in a panel discussion of the same title as part of the DEVAC Infrastructure Summit held 14-15 May 2025 at the Marriott Hotel, Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, South Africa.
