KEY POINTS:
Transit NZ has agreed to delay until next month its closure of a buses-only motorway on-ramp from busy Esmonde Rd in Takapuna.
Its plan to close the ramp on Saturday, which would have also meant the abolition of a 1km bus lane along Esmonde Rd to the motorway, infuriated North Shore City mayor Andrew Williams and councillors at a meeting on Tuesday.
That was despite an acknowledgement by North Shore officers that the decision was made in conjunction with them and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to coincide with the introduction of buses, on a trial basis, to the $295 million Northern Busway.
The plan was for the bus lane to be surrendered to general traffic heading for the harbour bridge, and for buses to move to the centre of Esmonde Rd before making right turns into the new Akoranga bus station, even though that will not be available for passenger transfers until the busway is officially opened in early February.
Mr Williams and councillors including daily bus commuter Jan O'Connor warned that many passengers may abandon buses for cars because of a likelihood of long additions to what were now 16-minute trips into central Auckland.
Transit regional capital projects manager Sumi Eratne said his agency had been considering delaying the closure in any case, while assessing "operational issues" with its busway partners, and advised the North Shore council yesterday afternoon of a decision to do that.
He said the delay would be until after the Christmas holiday period, and discussions would continue in the meantime on operational procedures for the busway.
Mr Williams said last night he was very pleased Transit had responded "so promptly and so positively" to his council's request to delay its move.
He said there would need to be more discussions between city planners, Transit and the regional transport authority over reasons for closing the bus ramp and priority lane, and arrangements for their future use.
"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," he said.
"This busway is a joint $300 million venture and I would not like North Shore to go down in history as the city that removed bus access lanes at the very time we are making one of the most significant regional improvements in public transport for years."
Mr Williams told the Herald he hoped the Esmonde Rd bus lane would be kept open permanently for express buses from Bayswater and Hauraki Corner.
Not everyone will be happy with the bus lane's survival. Hauraki Corner resident Fiona McAllister said in an email to the Herald that she had been looking forward to its reallocation to southbound traffic to ease congestion in Esmonde Rd.
