Commuters brace for 'March madness' on Auckland's transport network

Advice for Auckland commuters from AT:
• Avoid travel at peak times.
• Walk to work if possible.
• AT has added 6500 extra spaces to buses and trains.

Auckland commuters are being urged to walk to work and avoid travel at peak times as "March madness" chokes the city's transport network.

A combination of travelling Auckland University students starting their first semester alongside school students and weekday workers ignites the annual nightmare on the city's roads and public transport.

March has 8.5 million passenger trips across the public transport network, 30 per cent more than in February and April.

Wednesday will also mark "walk to work day", as Auckland Transport (AT) encourages people to "get off the bus earlier or park further away to get some exercise and therapy".

AT has added 6500 extra spaces to buses and trains to deal with the madness, but passengers have been warned they may be forced to wait for transport due to full services.

AT metro operations' manager Brendon Main also recommended commuters travel outside peak times where possible.

"We just ask people to show a little more patience as we move through March. It's the busiest month of the year," he said.

"Those that can travel outside the peak times - that could be a good idea."

Main said the boost in public transport capacity and services would "go a long way" towards meeting demand.

"We want to ensure that wait times are acceptable and, on some routes, better than last year."

Traffic congestion usually eases in April as students timetables settle and workers take breaks during the Easter holidays.

In March last year 1157 complaints were made about buses being late, full, overcrowded or not showing up.