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October 2015
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
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
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.
■
Solar panels for taxi rank
The City of Cape Town opens a
green taxi rank with solar panels
in Nomzamo.
Infrastructure & Mixed Use