Enabling a Great Bus Service

With the new Te Waihorotiu Station opening on Wellesley St and Victoria St this year, a lot of effort has gone into making sure that they connect easily with the bus service, while also ensuring there is space for more pedestrians, scooters and cyclists flowing through the area. Victoria St linear park is nearly completed, the cycleways are linking up, and space needs also to be made for buses.

This takes thought. The central city is the most congested part of Waitemata (see map below) and Te Waihorotiu is tipped to become the busiest train station in the country.

For buses to meet expectations of frequency and reliability they need priority in some areas. Designated for that purpose are a handful of routes North to South (Albert St and Symonds St) and West to East (Wellesley St and Fanshawe-Custom St) with 24/7 bus lanes in some sections.

However, Wellesley St around the Civic theatre is a highly visited destination. It will have many buses coming through, but a lot of drivers will want to drop off in the area too. Do nothing and the traffic will split between Wellesley and Mayoral and Wakefield - while this might make it marginally faster for some cars (with small passenger numbers), this has a high chance of mucking up bus reliability (with large passenger numbers).

There is already a bus filter by the central library restricting East to West private car movement from Mayoral Drive to Queen St 24/7. This works well. Cars can access where they need to go (or close to it), but are discouraged from going through the city centre. You'd get fined for using it but people rarely do.

The AVO outside Queen St works less well. Many people don't understand what AVO meant and the street design is not clear. Many people have been hit by big fines but over time infringements reduced.

Last year AT proposed to install a permanent bus filter West to East between Eliott and Queen St (with the idea most cars continue South on Hobson and access the city centre via Mayoral Drive or head into the Civic carpark. Before Christmas this was changed to be 7am-7pm only.

However, Aotea Square is an evening destination. It is important that the buses work well all evening, that pick up and drop offs are done safely (not at the lights or in bus lanes). Nor do residents want boy racers, engine noise, air pollution and circling taxis.

The change is to make it easier for drivers but changing the rules twice a day adds to confusion (and fines).

For those trying to attract people to the city centre I understand why there has been frustration with fines and poor signage but it's imperative the bus system works and the place is safe and attractive for people.

The Waitemata Local Board recommend signage, paint, traffic design to make it as obvious as it is outside the Central library that the route is BUS ONLY and apply 24/7 with clear wayfinding so drivers know where to pick up and drop off and not get fined. Then everyone has a good night.