Cape Town - Just over a week since participation in the concept plan for the upgrades of the Wynberg Public Transport Interchange started, The City of Cape Town is set to host an information session to engage with the affected communities today.
Residents are urged to go in numbers to have their voices heard, and the plans will be explained at Wittebome Civic Centre between 2pm and 7pm.
According to the City of Cape Town, public participation runs until December 9.
The 25 000m² Wynberg PTI would comprise two levels to the north and east of the Wynberg railway station, between Brisbane Road and Morom Road, bordering Wetton and Broad Roads. The ground level would accommodate minibus taxis serving the Cape Town CBD, while the upper level is for minibus taxis serving the metro south east. And there will be a single-level facility between Ottery Road and the railway line for minibus taxis.
Ward councillor Carmen Siebritz said the sessions will be inclusive of all affected stakeholders "and participation is encouraged. This is a platform for everyone to be heard and to help our people make informed decisions. This is a huge project which is going to have a massive impact to all. It is important that start on the journey together so we don't have problems, once work has started."
Yunus Karriem, the chairperson of the Wynberg Civic Association, said this is an opportunity to ask relevant questions and "hopefully, get answers to some of the issues of what is being proposed."
He said the association would give its input and would like to see improvements as far as congestion is concerned. Among the questions they have, Karriem said they would also be asking about the impact of the development on the local mosque and the availability of parking spaces for the congregants.
"We, as the Wynberg Civic, will give our input, (but) we won’t comment on the design yet until we have made a decision," said Karriem.
Gene Lohrentz of the Wynberg Improvement District added: "We continue to support the proposed upgrades and will once more sensitise our constituents to the proposals and ask them to participate."
"The proposed concept design aims to address all of these challenges while, at the same time, making provision for the roll-out of the MyCiTi service to Wynberg within the next few years.
“I want to assure all that this concept design is not final. We will consider all comments and proposals that we receive and use this in finalising the detailed design. I encourage residents, commuters, operators and business owners to submit their comments on the proposal and to join our effort in giving this part of Wynberg a significant capital injection," City’s Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas concluded.