Multi-million rand state-of-the-art station opens in the north
The station will highlight the extremely long daily commutes that define life for many people in the northern parts of Pretoria.
Tshwane metro mayor Stevens Mokgalapa has opened the Kopanong and Mabopane intermodal taxi and bus rank station on Tuesday.
Construction of the rank began in 2014 with a budget of R47.7-million, and is used by more than 50 000 passengers weekly. It was originally expected to be completed by September 2016.
It consists of taxi and bus shelters, hawker stalls, a new block of toilets and paved walkways.
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The rank is at the end of a railway line linking Mabopane/Soshanguve to Belle Ombre station on the northern edge of the CBD.
“The site was developed as an intermodal public transportation point of network aimed at allowing access for residents to distant employment opportunities,” he said.
“It has the potential to become an economic node in its own right and create employment opportunities proximate to the existing living environment.”
The metro said commuters found it very difficult to wait for transportation without shelters, “so we are playing an active role in tackling this issue”.
R22.5-million was recently allocated to complete the facility.
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Mokgalapa said public transportation systems benefited individuals, communities and the local economy.
“This is one of the reasons we are taking it so seriously.”
The money spent on the rank was in addition to the R23.1-million, allocated to road improvement in the northern areas of the city.
The rank will also play a major role in creating less stress for commuters.
“Addressing transport efficiency will contribute towards economic growth and create global competitiveness,” he said.
Photo: Facebook
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