There has been an ongoing debate amongst land use and transport planners over which comes first, the development of land or the provision of transport. In this paper. the problem is dealt with by using classical economic theory: the equilibrium between supply and demand. The economic principles are translated into land use and transport terms, typical supply and demand functions are derived, and the effect of different scenarios on the elasticity of supply and demand is outlined. In the conclusion, the myth of chicken or egg thinking is exposed and a way forward is proposed. The analysis method postulated can be used to meaningfully compare nodes of development. By properly studying the supply and demand mechanisms, priorities for expenditure can be determined and expensive mistakes can be avoided. A case study of revitalisation of the Randburg Central Business District (CBD) project in South Africa is given. Randburg had a growing and thriving CBD in the 1980s, with one of the first pedestrian malls in the country. But as the 1990s draw to close, the mall is showing signs of urban decay and more and more empty shops, and the office rentals are low. The study looks at the contribution of transport related infrastructure to determine its role and potential in revitalising the area. (A) The French title of the paper is: "Transport et aménagement: la poule et l'oeuf".
Samenvatting