Jozi inner city taxi rank to get a massive makeover  

18 September 2015

 

The Jack Mincer Taxi Rank in the Johannesburg inner city is soon to undergo a multimillion rand refurbishment to accommodate a large number of minibus taxis operating in streets within the already congested Johannesburg Park Station Precinct.

 

The massive refurbishment – spearheaded by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the City of Johannesburg’s infrastructure development and maintenance entity –is aimed at influencing the movement of minibus taxis in the area to reduce traffic congestion, create a welcoming environment for commuters and help formalise and provide appropriate working spaces for informal traders.

 

“The move will also result in the removal of a large number of taxis ranking alongside Joubert Park, creating a safer and cleaner environment around the park,” says Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Councillor Christine Walters.

 

As a consequence of this game-changing move, the City’s Transport Department and JDA are in need of temporary space to be used as a ranking and holding facility around the area while the refurbishment of the Jack Mincer Taxi Rank is under way.

 

One of the options being explored is to consider using Joubert Park as a temporary holding and ranking facility, with the ultimate aim of refurbishing and revitalising it after the taxi rank’s redevelopment.

 

JDA Chief Executive Thanduxolo Mendrew has dismissed rumours and media reports suggesting that the City intends converting Joubert Park into a taxi rank.

 

“No decision in respect of the temporary relocation of the taxis to Joubert Park or any other possible alternatives has been taken,” Mendrew says.

 

“The JDA has a proud record of sustainable inner city regeneration, with the construction of the new Metro Park and the revitalisation of the Ernest Oppenheimer Park being two good examples.”

 

To this end, both the JDA and the City of Joburg’s Transport Department embarked on an extensive exploratory process to find temporary suitable accommodation for the taxis and informal traders in and around the Jack Mincer taxi facility.

 

The agency has approached many private and public property and land owners for space with no success.

 

“Joubert Park is being explored as a last resort,” says Mendrew. “Our aim is that once the facility has been completed, the JDA will undertake a reconstruction of Joubert Park as an urban park that will retain its status both as a heritage space and the much-needed green lung in the City.”

 

The extension of the Jack Mincer minibus facility forms part of the bigger commuter links development that the JDA has been implementing over the past six years.

 

“The development of user-friendly transport facilities assists with achieving a people-centric approach to development,” says Lisa Seftel, the City's Executive Director for Transport.