AT plans for more buses divide a community

Auckland Transport's plans to divert more buses through Grafton are proving very divisive, the Grafton Residents Association (GRA) said today.

“We do not want our suburb further cut off from the Auckland Domain; something which is already occurring with increased bus traffic and the widening of Park Road,” David Haigh, the outgoing GRA Chair said.

Auckland Transport (AT) is proposing to divert all existing bus traffic from Khyber Pass Road onto Park Road, increasing traffic on a heavily congested route that is also a key inner city link for active transport users. AT is abandoning earlier work that would have seen Khyber Pass Road upgraded to handle increased public transport.

“Our residents regard it as a high priority to make Grafton Bridge and Park Road safe for cyclists and pedestrians,” Jacqui Wilkinson, Transport spokesperson for the GRA, said.

“It is not an efficient bus route, and can be frightening for active transport users. Traffic to Auckland Hospital means we experience significant delays on Park Road at all times of the day, not just during peak times. Buses sometimes take up to 30 minutes to get from Grafton Bridge to Khyber Pass Road in the middle of the day.

“The residents support the principles behind the new network, but feel our community, Auckland Hospital and the University of Auckland are already well served by the nearly 400 buses Park Road gets each day,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“We are part of the same urban space as the Grafton shops, Auckland Hospital, Auckland Domain and Carlton Gore Road. We are a strong, connected community.

“All these areas form part of the Memorandum of Understanding between Auckland Council and the Grafton Residents Association and our integrity as a community should be respected, not further divided.

“We are urging all residents and Aucklanders who work or study in this area to make submissions opposing the increase in the number of buses that would be diverted over the Grafton Bridge,” Mr Haigh said.

Submissions close on December 10th.

ENDS

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