The facility, on which work started in 2013, boasts the capacity to accommodate more than 40 taxis during peak hours and it has administration offices, six aisles fitted with steel benches and an iron zinc roof.
Stalls to house small business vendors are included and the entire rank is secured with a steel wall fence with lockable sliding gates and paved floors.
The taxi rank will service commuters based in Ramaphosa, Angelo informal settlement and Reiger Park, under the administration of the Reiger Park Boksburg District Taxi Association (RBDTA).
“We have heard your cries of wanting a new rank, now we have responded to your needs,” said the mayor, Mondli Gungubele, on Friday.
“The days of standing in dusty open fields waiting for public transport are long gone.
”There are more services to come, as we are still implementing new strategies for you to have free Wi-Fi, so when you’re in the taxi rank you can have access to the internet.”
The MMC for Roads and Transport, Clr Petrus Mhlarhi, said: “This taxi rank is not for the association, but for everyone, so everyone should take care of it. I am urging everyone here to report bad conduct happening here so we can attend to it.”
Clr Paulina Morake, who serves in Ward 42, expressed her delight at the development.
“I’m glad we now have a newly built taxi rank because, before, we were just standing in an open field waiting, for taxis, but now we will have a shelter to protect us from the rainy days,”
Not only taxis will benefit from the new rank, but it also will provide an opportunity for small business to thrive. Hairdressers, dressmakers, tuck shop owners and shoe repairmen will benefit from the influx of taxi commuters.
