30,000 people benefit from Council's decision on the Golden Mile
June 4, 2009
Today the Wellington City Council voted in support of the recommendation to open Manners Mall to Wellington buses and improve the area’s pedestrian ways.
In making this decision the councillors have shown great leadership, ensured that the Capital’s traffic congestion will get better not worse, and future proofed the public transport needs of the city by taking the first step in the Ngauranga to Airport transport plan.
Bruce Emson, CEO of NZ Bus said today: “Our customers tell us that the number one improvement they want from Wellington’s bus services is greater reliability. Currently, there are many Wellington bus travellers who can tell you of their experience of waiting 20 minutes for a bus and then having three turn up at once.”
“A major cause of this problem is that buses get held up through the Willis and Taranaki streets area and bunch up together.”
“The Council decided today to do the best thing they could do for Wellington’s 30,000 bus users and address the congestion problem in this area,” Mr Emson said.
Nearly all of Wellington’s bus routes travel through a part, or all of the Golden Mile. Over 140 buses per hour travel on Courtenay Place in the rush hour period alone. Over 180 buses per hour travel on Lambton Quay during the same period. The Golden Mile is the heart of Wellington’s bus network.
Mr Emson said the time savings are only one aspect of the benefits of opening Manners Mall up to buses as well as pedestrians. There are also cost benefits to be put into this equation.
The existing 1350 metres of bus route, and overhead, through this area will now become concentrated into 620 metres. “This represents a substantial reduction of the overhead wire network and the costs of maintaining it, 50 per cent of which falls on Wellington ratepayers through GWRC rates,” Mr Emson continues.
“At a net cost to Wellington City Council of $1.8million over five years (with a positive financial contribution after that period), this is exceptional value for money for a move that will reduce congestion, increase reliability and make bus journeys quicker,” Mr Emson said.
“The decision the Council made today to return Wellington’s Golden Mile to Manners Street will free up a major bottleneck to the flow of traffic through the city and greatly enhance the city’s urban development, and provide for safer cycling and walking. They have reconfirmed Wellington City’s CBD as the most vibrant, accessible and successful downtown precinct in New Zealand,” Mr Emson concludes.
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