Ask Phoebe: Busy bus stops first in line to get passenger shelters

Before the creation of Auckland Council and AT, each city and district council had its own policy for bus shelter placement. Photo / Janna Dixon

How does Auckland Transport decide where bus shelters are placed?
Mark Browning, Auckland.

Bus shelters are normally placed at "busy" bus stops, however there is an argument that bus stops become busy when a shelter is added. Auckland Transport tries to focus on bus stop locations that are busy across the day, which is why stops that mainly serve school buses don't always have shelters.

On frequent bus routes, AT tries to provide shelters at every stop. The primary focus is on the inbound direction of travel because people have to wait for a bus. In the afternoon/evening, bus stops in the suburbs are typically drop-off stops, so there is less need for a shelter. In the city and suburban town centres, AT tries to cater for locations where many passengers will have to wait.

Often when a bus shelter appears to be missing, it is because there is not sufficient space and it is not possible to move the bus stop to a better location nearby.

Before the creation of Auckland Council and AT, each city and district council had its own policy for bus shelter placement. AT is taking citywide approach and is implementing a major programme to upgrade bus stops and add many more shelters.

Each year, the funding for new bus shelters is limited, so they must prioritise according to need.

I notice that the very old stand of pine trees at Windmill Reserve in Epsom is being cut down, presumably for safety reasons. The felled trees seem to have been carefully numbered. Could you explain the background to what is happening, and why the trees have been so marked?
Peter Maxwell, Epsom.

Auckland Council says the stand of at least 70 pine trees is 70-80 years old. The trees are being removed for safety reasons. Tree failures (trees or parts of trees falling over or breaking off) over the past year have caused damage to private property and raised major concerns regarding the safety of people in the park. During the last major storm in June, three trees failed, plus large hanging branches were evident.

Unfortunately, the whole stand must be removed as leaving individual specimens or small groups would leave a risk to public and property. Resource consent was granted for their removal in July.

The numbering relates to the grading of the logs for transporting. The price obtained for the trees' removal included a discount for usable logs.

Can you please explain the significance of the blue lights atop the light poles at the Northern Busway stations on SH1? I have written to Auckland Transport but have received no answer.
Dave Wilding, Auckland.

There is nothing sinister about the lights -- no warnings for incoming space craft or anything like that. They are just part of the design of the stations on the busway.