If all goes as planned, the new public transport interchange (PTI) in Somerset West will be ready to serve thousands of commuters and minibus-taxi operators within the next three weeks, before winter truly hits the basin.
The contractor is finalising the remaining snags, and afterwards the official handover of the upgraded facility will take place. The City of Cape Town has spent about R65 million on the project, the biggest investment in the Somerset West central business district (CBD) in recent years.
Last Thursday (23 May) Rob Quintas, Mayoral Committee member for Urban Mobility, conducted a site visit at the brand-new facility.
The new PTI is located on two different sites in the Somerset West CBD, one behind the town hall and another on the side of the Vineyard Shopping Centre. Together, the facility is about 4 000 m² in size to accommodate minibus-taxi operators, bus services, informal traders and thousands of commuters.
“I am proud and elated to say that commuters and minibus-taxi operators will be able to use this brand-new facility before the worst of winter hits,” said Quintas.
“Together with the project management team, I visited the site earlier today, and the new PTI is really impressive. We are all looking forward to formally opening the facility sometime in June, so that commuters can benefit from the new, safer, convenient, and dignified PTI.
The construction project started in January 2022, Quintas related.
“On this point, I want to also thank the operators, traders, commuters, adjacent businesses and residents for their patience and ongoing support,” he added.
“The construction has been done in phases to limit the inconvenience, but unfortunately, during this time all of those frequenting the area have been impacted. It is important to acknowledge this, and to add that without your cooperation, this project would not have been possible.”
An estimated 1 000 commuters and about 300 minibus-taxis will use the new PTI that will serve 12 destinations: Lwandle, Macassar, Firgrove, Strand, Nomzamo, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Zola, Khayelitsha, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, and Grabouw. The Golden Arrow Bus Service will also operate from the facility.
“One of the commitments in our Integrated Development Plan for this term of office is to improve public transport infrastructure and operations so that more commuters can have access to safer, convenient, reliable and quality transport services,” Quintas pointed out.
“The City’s investment of R65 million in the new PTI for Somerset West confirms our resolve to improve urban mobility in Cape Town.”
Once operational, the interchange will hold multiple benefits for commuters, pedestrians, public transport operators and traders.
As part of the project, new underground services were installed at the facility, including a water main, and stormwater infrastructure, canopies or roofs, ablution and refuse buildings, as well as the resurfacing of a section of Andries Pretorius Street.
