In a move that indicates a shift towards more sustainable urban development in SA, Melrose Arch earmarked a site between Corlett Drive and Sunnyside Road for the project.
Facilities like taxi ranks are afterthoughts in many nodes. For example: Sandton, the new business centre of Africa, lacks a proper taxi rank for the thousands of blue-collar workers who flock in and out of the area each day.
The Birnam rank, designed by OLA-Arup, in consultation with the Alexandra Taxi Association, is expected to help relieve traffic congestion in the area.
The rank will provide a secure informal trading area, public toilets, an administration office, public telephones and covered commuter waiting areas. It will serve all major taxi routes including one to Johannesburg's city centre, as well as Rosebank and Sandton.
Alexandra Taxi Association public relations officer Sydney Nkosi says: 'I find it incredible that a private company like Melrose Arch can take such wonderful care of its staff and visitors by supplying this facility.
'We were given many opportunities to express our needs and we were presented with six different designs from which to choose.' Melrose Arch precinct manager Richard Willys says: 'We believe the Birnam taxi rank is going to be a great asset to the community, and it is well worth the investment.'
Business Day
Publisher: Business Day
Source: Business Day
