‘The new MyCiTi Station will be in the heart of Claremont, within walking distance of student accommodation, shopping malls and other amenities, and literally a block away from Main Road, the main artery connecting this area with the Cape Town CBD.’ Rob Quintas Cape Town mayoral committee member for urban mobility
The continued growth in and around Claremont CBD has necessitated a further investment in the Claremont PTI – prompting the City of Cape Town to approve the roll out of the next phase of MyCiTi bus services. Phase 2A – valued at R5.2 billion – will connect Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain with the hubs of Claremont and Wynberg, making Claremont CBD more accessible to a wider catchment area.
These additional services will require the redesign of the existing bus facility in Claremont in order to accommodate the construction of a MyCiTi station. The new facility will comprise four enclosed platforms as well as a ticket office, 10 electronic access gates, ticket vending machines and lock-up facilities for bicycles.
In addition to the new MyCiTi station, the planned revamp will include facilities for other bus services and upgrades to both Stanhope Road and Claremont Boulevard. Stanhope Bridge will be realigned to ease access from Imam Haron Road and will include dedicated bus lanes, while Palmyra Junction will be realigned into a T-junction with Imam Haron Road. Dedicated bus lanes will also be added to Claremont Boulevard.
The proposed concept design of the new MyCiTi stations includes an overhead concrete slab or deck which could, in future, accommodate a multi-story mixed-use development. Until then, the possibility of a rooftop garden – which would act as a heat sink – is being considered.
Once the upgrade is completed and the new MyCiTi station is operational, commuters will have a choice of five different modes of public transport: MyCiTi, Golden Arrow buses, the UCT Shuttle, passenger rail and minibus-taxis – all within a radius of less than 120 metres.
By making Claremont CBD part of a larger transport network via the upgraded PTI, the intention is to make Claremont more accessible but also quicker and cheaper to travel to. It is hoped that this will encourage people to make the shift from private cars to public transport, thereby easing congestion on the Main Road. With all these modes ending in one place, it is critical that the PTI is clean, safe and well-managed.
With the upgraded PTI likely to result in higher commuter numbers, it would be prudent for other government departments, like health, to invest in improving access to their services in the area. An enlarged Claremont Clinic would allow more people to utilise their facilities.
The planned upgrade will also benefit the broader precinct, through the planting of trees and landscaping, as well as through measures to ensure safer walking in the area.
According to the City, work on the new PTI should commence in August 2024. Completion would be scheduled within two years.
For more info visit: https://www.myciti.org.za/en/phase2a/construction/claremont-bus-facility/