Plans for a major revamp of the Wynberg public transport interchange (PTI) are starting to take action this December – a month that reminds us of the hassle of heavy traffic.
The City of Cape Town’s concept plan was shared at the Wittebome Civic Centre in Wynberg on Thursday 17 November, and is available for public comment until Friday 9 December.
The concept plan proposes a refurbishment that includes two minibus-taxi facilities situated both north and east of the Wynberg railway station.
The new facility will have two levels and be located between Brisbane Road and Morom Road. The ground level of the facility will be for minibus-taxis heading towards the CBD with the upper level for taxis serving the metro-south east (Khayelitsha).
The second will be an upgraded facility with a single level, located between Ottery Road and the railway line. This facility will be for minibus taxis serving Grassy Park and the South.
According to the City of Cape Town, the current PTI facility near the Wynberg railway station is rundown and overcrowded.
Currently, 48,000 commuters, 1,500 minibus taxis and Golden Arrow buses make use of the PTI daily. With the numbers outweighing the facility’s capacity, minibus taxis are blocking walkways and worsening traffic congestion.
Along with the new PTI plans, the City plans to further help traffic flow with one-way road conversions and upgraded intersections.
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Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayco member for Urban Mobility, speaks on the City’s intention to assist with the flow of minibus-taxi operations.
“Each operator from the West-North; West-South; and East, will have their own dedicated operations area, with their own facilities and dedicated entrance and exit routes. There will be sufficient space for ranking, drop-and-go, and parking between peaks.”
“This over and above facilities to meet, rest, and so forth,” Quintas continues.
SMEC, the engineering company overseeing the design, had their project manager, Wally Cordier, at the public meeting last month to engage with residents’ questions and concerns.
Cordier discussed the design of the new two-level facility, as well as how the team evaluated the current operations of the minibus taxis serving the metro-southeast, particularly during the morning peak.
“They should operate across Wetton Bridge on that ground floor, where you see all those taxis along the railway line currently, that is where they need to drop in the mornings, but that is too far for them to cross Wetton Bridge, so the metro-south east taxis currently come down Broad Road, they make a u-turn at the Brisbane Road intersection and they head out again.”
Cordier explained that this is what is causing the congestion issues.
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“With our concept, we are removing the need for those taxis to cross Wetton Road or to just drop-and-go in the mornings, illegally. That’s why we allowed this first floor deck across the railway line for metro-south east. They will then come down Broad Road, up a ramp, drop their people and then they go down a ramp again and out along Broad Road.”
Cordier clarified the team’s plans, explaining that the new design will give drivers a designated route and prevent them from having to make u-turns or stop along Broad Road.
“We based our flow of traffic and our analysis on traffic data that we have. And based on that, the overall level of service and operations, not only here but for the whole Wynberg area, will improve.”
Emile Langenhoven, councillor for Ward 62, was also at the public meeting and spoke on residents’ responses, which he said have been positive overall.
A few people have raised concerns with regards to the fact that money is being spent on new construction rather than cleaning the area and keeping it safe.
Responding to the negative commentary, Langenhoven said that it is “not really viable because we have a massive taxi industry that is currently in the PTI and we have a massive demand for transport so that people can reach employment.”
Langenhoven went on to say that because of this demand, minibus taxi transport is something that needs to be focused on, even though the demand for taxis might fluctuate in the coming years.
“The demand will not remain the same for the next 10 years. That will increase, it will decrease. The PTI is there to house the taxis in a more formal way and closing certain areas that will make it safer for pedestrians to walk through the Wynberg PTI.”
Langenhoven believes that this project will vastly improve the conditions in Wynberg and encourage investment opportunities.
According to the City, the PTI design should be completed by the end of next year, followed by three years of construction.
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Picture: News24