Esmonde Rd Bus Lanes In Use – For Now

Wednesday, 5 December 2007

North Shore City Mayor Andrew Williams has welcomed news that Transit New Zealand will defer the closure of the Esmonde Rd bus lane and motorway on ramp until mid January. "We are very pleased that Transit have responded so promptly and so positively to our request to review their earlier decision" says Mayor Williams.

Mayor Williams said yesterday that commuters would have to brace themselves for several shocks as a result of an earlier decision to close the bus lane and on ramp.

But Mayor Williams says there will need to be further discussions between city transport planners, Transit and ARTA over the reasons for the closure of the lanes on a major arterial route and motorway, and how they should properly be used in future.

“I would like to know why it seemed so necessary to close these key access routes just weeks out from the official opening of the entire Busway system, which includes our three newest bus stations –Akoranga, Smales Farm and Sunnynook.

“This Busway is a joint $300 million dollar venture, and I would not like North Shore City to go down in history as the city that removed bus access lanes at the very time that we are making one of the most significant regional improvements in public transport in years,” says Mayor Williams.

City New Zealand www.northshorecity.govt.nz

ENDS

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