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October is Transport Month, a period where entities will showcase transport infrastructure services in aviation; maritime; public transport and roads. Transport shapes the way city dwellers live and ensures the functioning of the city itself - taking residents from their homes to work, schools, hospitals, stadiums, service providers, shops, and entertainment.

Through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department plays a critical role in the creation of complete nodes where people can live, work, and play and are efficiently connected by public transport. 

The City’s Transport Department has constructed several mega taxi ranks in the City of Johannesburg to meet the needs of both commuters and public transport operators in the Bara, Faraday, and Metro Mall taxi ranks. 

However, the introduction of the Rea Vaya and Gautrain made it necessary for the City to revise its strategies for the provision of public transport facilities.

The City has moved away from constructing mega taxi facilities and the Orange Farm Public Transport Facility, Drieziek Public Transport Facility, Vlakfontein Public Transport Facility, and the Kya Sand Transport and Holding Facility Facility are the latest of these new-look facilities based on this strategy for new public transport facilities.

ORANGE FARM PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITY 

Status – Ongoing 

Orange Farm Public Transport Facility, located on the corner of Link and Saint Road, will serve as an aesthetically pleasing, functional, sustainable, and durable facility with greening and landscaping. 

The construction of the R55-million Orange Farm public transport facility will address the changing needs of public transport in the area, providing a safe commuter experience and the address the needs of people with disabilities as well as women and children.  

The facility will feature covered trading facilities, ablution facilities, bicycle racks and a refuse yard. The soft and hard landscaping comes with street furniture, a security officer with a mini kitchen and a boardroom for meetings with streetlighting with perimeter lights within a suitable radius of the facility. 

DRIEZIEK PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITY

Status – Completed 

The Drieziek public transport facility symbolises the organic movement of the public transport industry and has changed the landscape in Orange Farm, Region G. 

The all-weather, aesthetically pleasing transport facility was implemented and completed by the JDA and features 37 holding bays, 42 loading bays, 10 wash bays, private car parking, 22 trader stalls, ablution facilities (male, female and disabled), and a public square for traders, including a sitting area.

Located at the corner of Milife Street, the modern facility stands out as a new innovative, dense but easy-to-use public transport infrastructure that is functional, sustainable, and durable. 

This transport facility will reduce commuters’ travel time, due to the centrality of its location, and most importantly improve safety for commuters of Ward 4 and Ward 5.

VLAKFONTEIN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITY

Status – Practical Completion 

In Vlakfontein, on the outskirts of Zakariyya Park, the JDA has been implementing the construction of the Vlakfontein Public Transport facility, designed for quick pick-up and drop-off.

In the case of the Orange Farm Public Transport facility, the Vlakfontein Public Transport facility comprises a guard house, office buildings, ablution facilities, ranking areas, walkways, and taxi holding areas. The external works include landscaping, stormwater drainage, sewer and water reticulation, and boundary fences. 

The JDA also completed a public environment upgrade on main streets leading to the Vlakfontein Public Transport facility. The intention was to better accommodate taxis, traders, pedestrians, and commuters in a safe, clean, and attractive environment that will enhance the overall appearance and functionality of the area.

KYA SAND SUPER STOP AND HOLDING FACILITY 

Status – Practical Completion.

In the industrial suburb of Johannesburg, the JDA has been implementing the Kya Sand Transport and Holding Facility project on Bernie Street and River Road in Kya Sands. 

Kya Sands borders Diepsloot and Fourways to the east, the Tshwane municipal area to the north, Randburg to the south and Mogale City to the west. Mini-bus taxis and busses make up the public transportation segment and the strongest movement of people is between the Western Sub-Region and the employment and shopping areas of Fourways.

The desired benefits of the project are to:

• Produce a safe, attractive, liveable environment.
• To facilitate visibility and improved public environment in the Kya Sands Public Environment Precinct.
• Promote improved social cohesion; and
• Encourage further investment and upgrading in the area.
• The works undertaken mainly consist, but are not limited to the following:
• Remove existing asphalt surfacing, segmented block paving, kerbing, and concrete channelling.
• Accommodation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. 
• Relocation, raising or lowering of existing services.
• Installation of Universal Access ramps and raised pedestrian crossings.
• Construction of new stormwater infrastructure and associated works.
• Remedial work to existing stormwater services where required.
• Provision and construction of block paving for sidewalks.
• Installation of ducts for future fibre cables, electrical works, and traffic signals.
• Installation of urban street furniture.
• Installation of road signage and markings.
• Provision for new Street Lighting system.
• Landscaping

Issued by Kenneth Nxumalo from The Johannesburg Development Agency