Residents reminded of meetings about new transport facility for Somerset West

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The City of Cape Town will be spending approximately R65 million on the construction of a new public transport interchange in Somerset West. Residents are reminded to attend the information sessions that will take place next week where officials will share the details.

The new public transport interchange (PTI) will be constructed in the Somerset West central business district, and is designed for minibus-taxi operators, bus services, informal traders, and thousands of commuters. This is the biggest public investment in the CBD in recent years.

Two open days will be hosted where residents, and interested and affected parties will have the opportunity to ask questions. The details are as follows:

  • Dates: 22 and 23 January 2020
  • Time: 15:00 to 18:00
  • Venue: Somerset West Library Hall, 10 Victoria Street

‘This is a major project. The local community and businesses will benefit tremendously, but most importantly, we want to provide a safe, convenient, comfortable, and dignified space for the commuters and operators from the Somerset West area. The purpose of these information sessions is for the residents to become familiar with what is to come in the near future, and how to prepare for the inconvenience that is, unfortunately, part of any big construction project. Thus, I encourage the public and all interested parties to attend the information sessions. They can also use the opportunity to ask the officials questions,’ said the City’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.

The new PTI will be constructed on two sites abutting Church, Andries Pretorius and Victoria Streets. Together, the sites comprise approximately 12 000m² and will accommodate both minibus-taxi operators and the Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS).

‘If all goes as planned, we should commence with construction in the latter part of 2020. We wanted to start earlier, but unfortunately there were some delays with the procurement process. Given the size of this project – we intend to spend approximately R65 million – it will take at least two years to complete and we want to ensure that everything is in order before we go ahead,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.

The construction will be done in phases to limit the inconvenience to all of those working, doing business, and commuting to and from the area.