Major revamp for Wynberg’s taxi rank and surrounds on the cards

Staff Reporter|Published 2 years ago

A map of the concept plan for a refurbishment of the Wynberg taxi rank indicates the proposed new locations and layout of the public transport services, and surrounding streets. The concept plan will be available for public comment from next month.

The City of Cape Town has developed a concept plan for the major refurbishment of the Wynberg public transport interchange (PTI), more commonly referred to as the Wynberg taxi rank. This concept plan will be available for public comment from Monday November 7 to Friday December 9.

The Wynberg PTI is located in the vicinity of the Wynberg railway station, with thousands of minibus-taxis parked in the holding area in Morom Road in particular.

“Nearly 48 000 commuters use the facility on weekdays. About 1 500 minibus-taxis and Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) buses operate to and from the facility. The current facility is stretched way beyond capacity with no formal holding area for the minibus-taxis between the peak-hour periods. The surrounding streets are congested to a point where traffic flow is nearly impossible for both minibus-taxis and other vehicles.” the City of Cape Town said in a statement.

The concept design for the refurbished PTI proposes two minibus-taxi facilities. The upgraded facilities will be located to the north and east of the Wynberg railway station. A new facility with two levels, located between Brisbane Road and Morom Road, bordering Wetton and Broad roads.

The ground level of the facility is for minibus-taxis serving the Cape Town CBD and the upper level is for minibus-taxis serving the metro-south east. An upgraded single level facility, located between Ottery Road and the railway line, for minibus-taxis serving destinations in Grassy Park and the south. Two stations for the future MyCiTi service, located along Station Road, and a realigned Sussex Road. Drop-off and pick-up points for GABS buses.

The concept plan, the City says, will cover an area of approximately 25 000m², with additional bus and walking and cycling lanes, road upgrades, hard and soft landscaping. It will include holding areas for minibus-taxis between peak-hour periods. Commuters will be able to seamlessly and conveniently transfer between passenger rail, minibus-taxis, GABS, and the MyCiTi bus service.

“Currently, due to the capacity constraints, minibus-taxis are obstructing walkways. Given that the new PTI will provide holding facilities, this will no longer happen and the whole area will be turned into a pedestrian-friendly environment with universally accessible walkways under cover, where possible. We will use design elements to improve safety and security, and with additional lighting we will create a safe and dignified space.

“The proposed one-way conversions, and upgraded intersections will assist with traffic flow, and smoothen the road-based public transport services to ensure efficient operations,” said the City's mayoral committee member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas.

A detailed design should be concluded by the end of 2023, taking into account the comments submitted by the public on the concept design.

Currently commuters travelling to and from 30 destinations across Cape Town, from the CBD to Hout Bay, the metro-south east and the southern suburbs use the Wynberg public transport interchange. The map shows how each mode of transport to different routes will be accommodated.