Concern over BRT construction
Residents raise concerns over extension plans for the BRT system across the Wonderboom station in the north of Pretoria.
Corlia Kruger
The extension of Tshwane’s R2.6 billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system through Pretoria North to the Ga-Rankuwa area might bring problems.
The project was initially welcomed as a plan to improve traffic congestion and provide commuters with more alternative transport options.
Recently however, as construction began at the Wonderboom station, residents and ward councillors raised some concerns.
They were worried about the road and placement of the new taxi-rank – which they fear may bring more problems instead of solving the issue of traffic congestion.
An estimated 180 buses and 120 taxis will be available to the public at the new BRT station that is being built next to Paul Kruger Street, across the Wonderboom station.
In March last year, it was noted the project would be completed and ready for use by the end of June 2017.
DA ward councillor Dana Wannenburg told Rekord however, the plans presented a few days before construction gave cause for concern.
“The plan, as they showed us, may not work as well to prevent traffic problems. The plans as they are presented do not include a turning point for taxi’s taking people to and from the station,” Wannenburg said.
“This means we are going to experience many problems with taxis making illegal U-turns to pick up commuters.”
The BRT system, known as A Re Yeng, forms part of the city’s revitalisation project.
When completed, it will comprise some 80km of dedicated bus lanes and 62 stations from Mabopane in the north-west through the Pretoria CBD, Hatfield, past Menlyn and the Silver Lakes area to Mamelodi.
Last year, Wannenburg was excited about the project that was going to make travelling much easier and faster for commuters.
However, Wannenburg believes he sees a flaw in the current construction plan which may, in his opinion, have a negative impact on traffic and other problems.
Site establishment at Wonderboom station is set to begin on Wednesday and will continue until end of May this year.
“Hawkers and street vendors were also moved across the road. My concern is there is no access to water and toilet facilities here, which means vendors and hawkers would regularly have to cross the road back and fro,” said Wannenburg.
During a site meeting on Monday, details of the construction at Wonderboom station were discussed.
These, said Wannenburg, did not address the problems he foresaw.
A BRT project manager said in a statement no taxis would be allowed to load and off-load passengers at the site during the construction period.
“The taxi operators will have to utilise the temporary facility that have been made available across the road from Wonderboom station,” he said.
“Passengers must please utilise the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the freeway. Note the area that has been indicated for the temporary loading facility is currently being utilised by taxi operators coming from the north of Pretoria to load and off-load passengers.”
He said the area had been cleaned and levelled for this purpose.
“Once the interim facility is completed at the end of May, it will be utilised as a loading facility for both the A Re Yeng buses and taxis,” said the project manager.
“This will continue up until the new intermodal facility is completed across the road from the station. Once completed the intermodal facility will have a loading and holding area for taxis, the A Re Yeng buses, TBS buses and other long distances buses like Putco.”
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