Housing in Southern Africa October 2015

Solar panels for taxi rank The City of Cape Town opens a green taxi rank with solar panels in Nomzamo. Infrastructure & Mixed Use

T he City has transformed the informal taxi rank opposite the Nomzamo Community Hall in Lwandle into a sustainable public transport facility with solar panels on the roof, washing facilities for minibus-taxis, kiosks for informal traders and bathroom facilities for commuters. Previously, minibus-taxis at the informal rank in Nomzamo operated froma potholed asphalt surface with inadequate food and seating fa- cilities, no bathrooms and very little shelter against the elements. The City’s transport authority, Transport for Cape Town, came up with a newdesign focused on provid- ing the residents of Nomzamo with a dignified space where they can board taxis,” saidMayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Brett Herron. Since the recent opening 115 minibus-taxis have been operating from this facility transporting more than 20 000 local residents. The ma- jority of the commuters travel towork in Somerset West and Stellenbosch central business districts, Somerset Mall, the Strand railway station, Gor- don’s Bay and Heldervue. “The new rank aims to accom- modate the minibus-taxis in the most efficient manner, reducing the traffic violations on Michael Street. Our main focus, however, was on the safety and comfort of pedestrians and as such, the roadway along Mi- chael Street, which passes through the minibus-taxi precinct, has been raised and paved with a grey inter- locking concrete paver so that driv- ers are aware that they are entering

for local traders and entrepreneurs. “This is a great business opportunity for a local entrepreneur providing food and refreshments. Each kiosk has been provided with water, wash basins, fat traps and an extractor. The water and electricity costs will be recovered from the traders as each kiosk is metered separately. Construction of the R12 million taxi rank has a rooftop solar photovoltaic panel system for electricity genera- tion, there are 68 solar panels on the roof, arrayed at optimumorientation to the sun, which provides 16%of the entire facility’s electricity during the peak periods, inclusive of the trading kiosks. The taxi rank will be provided with batteries for the storage of re- serve solar electricity, which will be used at night or on cloudy days, ensuring the taxi rank can operate completely off the electricity grid,” said Herron. ■

a public transport area with a high number of pedestrians,’ said Herron. Overhead canopies have beenpro- vided at the loading areas, as well as the pedestrian walkways, providing commuters with protection against the sun and rain. Low walls and bol- lards under the trees can be used for seating and there are a number of refuse bins to discourage littering. Apart from an administration building, the facility is also equipped with a security tower that has an unobstructed view of the taxi rank, pedestrian walkways and the com- munity centre. The taxi wash bay accommodates two minibus-taxis at a time and has an overhead canopy, metered water supply, as well as an underground oil separator, which prevents oil and grease from entering the sewerage system. TCT has also constructed six kiosks

October 2015