8 May 2018

In its draft 10-Year Plan, Wellington City Council has earmarked $34 million to help improve Wellington bus services, with bus-priority lanes and new shelters.

Councillor Sarah Free, the public transport portfolio holder, says Wellington’s population is expected to grow by up-to 80,000 people in the next 25 years so it’s important the city has an efficient and user friendly public transport system.

"A reliable and affordable bus service is vitally important if we don’t want to end up with gridlock as the city grows,” she says.

“While the regional council is responsible for bus routes and timetables, Wellington City Council can help ensure the service is more reliable by putting in more bus-lanes and bus-only lanes and by giving buses priority at controlled intersections.

“This project will reduce pressure on private transport and help make bus travel times quicker and more reliable. This’ll help more people, whether using public or private transport, to commute more quickly and comfortably.

“We’re also going to roll out 70-80 new bus shelters over the next decade to help ensure public transport is not only affordable and efficient, but a comfortable option for Wellington residents,” she says.

The proposed changes will be done in coordination with Let’s Get Wellington Moving and the development of Wellington’s cycleways.

Potential bus-priority lanes have been identified for the Golden Mile (between the Railway Station and Cambridge Terrace), Karori, Victoria Street, Willis Street, Taranaki Street, Kent and Cambridge Terraces, and Adelaide Road. Other proposed projects include improvements to promote the effectiveness of the Wellington bus interchanges in Kilbirnie, Miramar, Karori, Johnsonville, Brooklyn, Newtown and Island Bay.

Funding for the bus-priority project and the new bus shelters are part of the Council’s draft 10-Year Plan.

Cr Free says it’s important the Council hears what the community thinks of the plan.

“Whether it’s to ask for more bus shelters, other improvements to bus stops, or whatever else anyone wants to raise regarding our city’s future, we want to hear what Wellington residents think.”

People can read the plan and have their say via www.10yearplan.wellington.govt.nz or through social media via #WgtnPlan.. Submissions close on Sunday.

ENDS

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