9 August 2004

New bus lanes to help speed commuters

A new bus lane for Glenmore Street, Kelburn, and bus lane extensions for Chaytor Street, Karori, Adelaide Road, Newtown, and Kaiwharawhara Road are all part of Wellington City Council’s plan to improve bus travel times and help bus commuters get around the city faster.

The new bus lane and bus lane extensions start on Monday 16 August. City Council Infrastructure Manager Stavros Michael is confident the public will get to grips with them quickly.

“We introduced bus lanes in Chaytor Street, Adelaide Road and Kaiwharawhara in April 2002 and they were very successful. Motorists adapted to them quickly and the time savings for bus passengers were greater than we anticipated. This time we’re extending these lanes and introducing a new one for Glenmore Street where buses regularly get caught in the peak evening traffic flow.”

The Glenmore Street lane heads away from the city and runs from The Rigi, under the Kelburn Viaduct, round the hairpin bend and up to Upland Road.

Bus lanes give priority to buses on main arterial routes where buses are routinely caught in traffic queues in peak traffic. Bus lanes take buses out of the main traffic flow and stop buses from holding up other traffic. They also allow the buses to make pick-ups and drop-offs without disrupting other traffic.

The Glenmore Street, Kaiwharawhara Road and Adelaide Road bus lanes will be ‘greened’ later this year as the green paint requires warmer weather to be applied.

“Although we’re expecting motorists to adjust quickly to the new bus lane and bus lane extensions we do want to remind motorists to observe the traffic signs and keep out of the bus lanes during the hours of operation.”

The only times motorists can enter a bus lane is if they are exiting or entering a side street or driveway. Motorists who enter the lanes unlawfully may receive a $150 infringement notice. The only vehicles permitted to use the lanes for through use, aside from buses, are cyclists, emergency vehicles and Police. Motorists may park in the lanes when they are not operating.

The hours of operation for the bus lanes are: Glenmore Street, 4pm-6pm Monday to Friday Chaytor Street, 24 hours Adelaide Road, 7am-9am Monday to Friday Kaiwharawhara Road, 7am-9am Monday to Friday.

ENDS

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