Rosebank developments impact space for taxis
Ongoing engagements with relevant stakeholders have resulted in the commencement of upgrades of the Rosebank Public Transport facility by the Johannesburg Development Agency.
Growing development in Rosebank has resulted in a lack of a designated public transport space for taxis. Construction and infrastructure development are mushrooming in the Rosebank central district.
In 2021, the Rosebank Killarney Gazette reported on how the affected stakeholders had been engaged in talks about the inadequate holding space for taxis. This resulted in the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) being appointed as the implementing agency for upgrading the Rosebank taxi rank. With upgrades still underway, some stakeholders, including taxi owners, expressed how the current rank was affecting them.
Taxi owner Mabalengwe Ntombela said, “These developers need to consult with us and find out how many taxis we have so that they can determine how much space is needed. Parking our taxis is time-consuming as we have to drive from an informal space into the actual rank to load people when the time comes.”
Ntombela said there used to be two lanes at the rank where they could park but one lane has since been closed and replaced with a pavement. He feels that the current developments were minimising space instead of increasing it. “We also don’t have lights in the rank and it’s then hard to work at night. The toilets are also not well maintained,” Ntombela said.
The JDA on behalf of the City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department stated that it had been implementing the upgrade of the Rosebank Public Transport facility. “T
o improve the transport facility, so it can accommodate Rosebank’s rapidly growing commuter base, the project is being undertaken in two phases. Kickstarted on November 30 last year, the first phase of the project is currently at 20% progress and it is the JDA’s objective to provide an immediate upgrade to the transport facility,” said the entity in a statement.
In addition, a traffic impact assessment for the current operation of taxis at the facility and affected overflow is being conducted along Jellicoe, Biermann, and Craddock avenues.
JDA said, “At the centre of all JDA developments is the concept of co-production of solutions, in partnership with local communities and stakeholders, allowing its development programmes to meet needs.
“The JDA has been engaging with various stakeholders, including taxi associations, Ward 117 stakeholders, as well as the Rosebank Management District (RMD) to ensure all parties find a way to provide a sustainable solution.”
RMD representative Basil Ngakane said stakeholders would hold their next meeting after the Easter holidays.
JDA said the scope of work for the first phase includes:
1) Upgrade of food stalls
2) Upgrade of ablution facilities
3) Upgrade of the intersection at the entrance and exit points
4) Traffic impact assessment to the intersections at the entrances of the current Rosebank Transport Facility
5) Transport study to understand traffic patterns and congestion during on and off-peak hours of the current taxi operations within the Rosebank area
6) Public environmental upgrades to improve key pedestrian non- motorised transport access
The second phase of the project provides a long-term solution to overflow problems, with the provision of an extension using an additional holding facility to accommodate additional minibus and metered taxis
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