Otago Regional Council (ORC) has developed a plan to improve Dunedin bus stops, starting with 10 of the highest priority stops.

Following an audit of Dunedin’s 853 stops last year, the Public and Active Transport Committee today approved a priority list of stops to be upgraded. It ranks the priority based on the condition of stops, the number of people using them, and if those passengers are young people and the elderly, the proximity of each stop to key destinations such as schools and hospitals, and the level of deficiency according to NZTA Public Transport Design Guidelines.

Co-chair of ORC’s Public and Active Transport Committee Andrew Noone says, “We looked closely at each stop to ensure our investment in infrastructure is good value for money and to make sure all bus users are safe.”

“We considered improvements that are needed such as adding new shelters, seats, yellow painted lines to indicate the bus stop, lighting and adjusting kerb height.”

The stops to be improved first are at 151 Princes Street, Gordon Road clocktower, Knox Church garden in George Street, York Place opposite St John, 30 North Road, Mosgiel Terminus, 64 Murano Street, 984 George Street, St Kilda Terminus and the Green Island super stop.

The Gordon Road clocktower stop is ranked as the second-most important stop for investment because it is used by 126 passengers a day, 55% of whom are children or elderly, and it scores below average against NZTA guidelines.

ORC has a budget of $520,000 for new bus stop infrastructure and $297,000 for improving existing stops, which is 51% co-funded by NZTA.

Staff will work with stakeholders, such as disability groups, bus operators and Dunedin City Council staff, to ensure investments are targeted to bus stops that will deliver the greatest benefit to passengers and bus drivers.

Background

The Dunedin bus stop audit, undertaken with DCC, looked at shelter and street lighting, seating, kerb height, footpaths and crossing connections, timetable and bus stop signs, rubbish bins and public art such as murals. It showed most stops are 50% to 70% compliant with NZTA guidelines.

The audit results have helped ORC make decisions about investment in improving Dunedin bus stops to ensure they are safe, comfortable and convenient.

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