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Northern Busway
Q. What is the Northern Busway?
The Northern Busway is a 6.2km, two-way road for buses running alongside the SH1 Northern Motorway from Constellation Drive to Esmonde Rd. Buses run on single bus lanes for 2.5km from Esmonde Rd to the Harbour Bridge and continue into Auckland City. The busway allows buses to run free from general traffic congestion. There are five busway stations: Albany, Constellation, Sunnynook, Smales Farm and Akoranga.
Did you know?
Congestion is estimated to cost Auckland around $1 billion per annum.
80 percent of Auckland region's air pollution is created by motor vehicles.
There are an average of 1.2 people in each car during rush hour in the Auckland area.
Fewer people in metropolitan Auckland use buses than comparable cities in USA, Canada or Australia.
New Zealand has more cars per head than just about any country except the USA.
The NZ Automobile Association has calculated that in real terms, a 1600-2000cc car used most days will cost around .87 cents per kilometre to run. Ponder that as you sit in motorway traffic watching buses speed along the Busway!
More details here |
Q. What about buses around the rest of the North Shore?
North Shore City Council is building a network of transit lanes on key roads across the city as part of the Northern Busway system. Transit lanes are restricted to buses, car pools and other eligible vehicles during peak hours to ensure buses are not caught up in traffic congestion. We are also improving bus shelters and town centre bus stations.
Q. Who is allowed to use the Busway?
Only licensed buses and emergency vehicles can use the busway.
Q. Can car pools use it?
. The Northern Busway has been designed to accommodate car pools, although they will not be allowed in the near future. Car pools (vehicles with three or more people) may be able to use the busway, once capacity has been improved at the Victoria Park Viaduct.
Q. What happens when buses get to the Harbour Bridge?
Buses merge with traffic when they reach the Harbour Bridge. Bus lanes on key roads in Auckland City allow buses to quickly reach Britomart and other destinations across Auckland.
Q. What if there is a crash or a breakdown?
The busway is constantly monitored by CCTV (closed circuit television cameras). There are plans in place to respond quickly to any emergency on the busway.
Q. How often do buses run on the busway?
Bus services across the North Shore have been increased. Buses run as frequently as every three minutes during peak times.
Q. Can I change buses and use the same ticket?
Yes. A transfer ticket for Northern Busway services has been introduced. This allows you to buy one ticket for your journey, whether you change buses or not.
Q. Can I park at the stations?
There are car parks at Albany Park & Ride and Constellation Park & Ride stations. Sunnynook, Smales Farm and Akoranga stations do not have dedicated car parks. There are enough busway services that people will not need to drive to these stations. They can just catch a bus in their neighbourhood to join the busway at a station, where they can stay on board or change buses with the same ticket. All stations also have convenient access for pedestrians and cyclists. The Northern Busway provides a real alternative to driving – now you can leave your car at home!
Q. Why buses and not rail?
Buses are a much more flexible transport option than trains, as they can move around anywhere there are existing roads. The busway has been designed so that it can be converted to a light rail system in the future if necessary. Busways have proven successful in other countries such as Canada and Australia.
Q. Will the Busway be extended further north?
Transit New Zealand, Auckland Regional Transport Authority and North Shore City Council are investigating this possibility.
Q. Will the stations be safe at night?
All busway stations are designed for maximum safety. Walls are see-through and planting kept low, so people can always be seen. The stations are regularly patrolled by security guards and monitored 24 hours a day by closed circuit television cameras linked to the Busway Operations Centre. There are also safety points where you can press a button to speak to someone at the operations centre immediately.
Q. How can I find out what bus to catch?
Call the MAXX contact centre on 366 6400, or go to www.maxx.co.nz for a journey planner. There is also comprehensive timetable information at all the busway stations.
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