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Tamaki Drive, St Heliers - Bus layover parking area Tamaki Drive, St Heliers - Bus layover parking area

Proposal status: Feedback closed 21 April 2021. Last updated 6 May 2021

Reference number: RTV-331B

Proposal outcome

In April 2021, we proposed changes to implement a dedicated bus layover parking area on Tamaki Drive, St Heliers. After reviewing all the feedback, we are proceeding with the work as proposed. These works will help support our Vision Zero goal.

What happens next

We anticipate the changes will be constructed by the end of May 2021. We will be in touch with local residents and business prior to any construction taking place.

Community feedback

Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge.  A summary of your feedback and our responses to community questions is below.

  • Request for proposed new signage to be installed on the existing poles (which hold clearway signs), to avoid new poles to be installed on the walkway.
    The signage needs to be exactly at the head and tail of the bus parking area for it to be legally enforceable. The positioning of the box has been designed to be of a length that can accommodate two buses, but also in a position to not restrict the view of the harbour from the property on the opposite side of Tamaki Drive. These two factors regrettably mean that we do need to install two new poles for the signage. They will be positioned adjacent to the seawall to not obstruct the shared path.
  • Concern that vehicles will have to use the median strip to pass buses parked in the layover area. 
    This section of Tamaki Drive is straight, and the flush median provides suitable width for other vehicles to pass a stationary bus without entering the opposing traffic lane. As such, this is a safe and legal manoeuvre. 
  • Observation that bus drivers are still using the old layover parking area at the intersection of Long Drive and Tamaki Drive, concern that the new signage and road markings may not stop this.Once the new location is formalised with the proposed signage and new rad markings, the bus drivers will have a much clearer visual cue on where to park. We will continue to work with NZ Bus to ensure drivers park in the new layover area.

We're proposing improvements in your area

In November 2020 we informed residents near the Long Drive intersection, of our intended changes to the start of the 775 bus route, including a new proposed bus layover parking location. The public feedback we received around this project was very valuable and has helped us in considering a more suitable location for this bus parking. We have been trialling this new layover bus parking location since January 2021 and we are now asking for your feedback.

This project has been developed and progressed in collaboration with St Heliers Bay Working Group. These changes are separate to the proposed St Heliers village safety improvements and bus stop changes, more information on that proposal can be found here. As such, this dedicated bus layover parking has been positioned in a location away from the western edge of the village, to minimise interactions between this bus route (775) and other activities, bus routes and movements within St Heliers village.

The changes we are proposing:

  • A dedicated location for layover bus parking for route 775 during peak morning times, between 6am and 9:30am. This will be positioned on the seaward kerbside of Tamaki Drive, 260 metres to the west of the first stop on the route (Stop ID 7340 - Tamaki Drive opposite Auckland Road).
  • Installing blue P30 Bus Parking signs with 'No Idling' on Tamaki Drive to indicate the layover parking where buses can briefly park before proceeding to Stop ID 7340 to commence the 775 service.

Download the proposal drawing for Tamaki Drive, St Heliers (PDF 1.58MB).

This new location of the AM peak bus parking is on a straight stretch of road away from a busy intersection. The location also ensures that bus drivers have a view of all traffic approaching the bus - making their manoeuvre out of the layover parking back into the traffic lane much safer and easier. The traffic approaching the buses in the layover parking also have a clear view of the buses and will be able to see the bus indicate well before it turns into the traffic lane.

If you would like to post in your feedback, download and print our feedback form template, fill in your details and send it freepost using the address details on the form.

What happens next

  • We'll consider all the feedback we receive, and then decide the best way to move forward.
  • We'll post the outcome of this proposal and a summary of community feedback on this webpage.
  • We can email you the proposal outcome as soon as it's ready – just select that option when you fill in the survey.

St Heliers: Safe with us

Auckland Transport cares for your safety. We want to make our roads safe for everyone, people walking and cycling, especially for our kids and senior citizens and people driving. Projects like this one around Tamaki Drive are another step towards our goal of achieving no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. We are guided by the Vision Zero approach to transport safety, which prioritises human safety over other measures (like minor time saving).