Dominion Road bus lane improvements Dominion Road bus lane improvements
Auckland Transport (AT) proposes making improvements to Dominion Road bus lanes in 2018.
- Get details of the proposed improvements along Dominion Road.
- Public engagement and feedback report on the proposed improvements.
Project status: Consultation closed 13 December 2017.
Project zone: Central
Project overview
We are extending bus lanes along Dominion Road, making them continuous between Horopito Street and Mt Albert Road.
We will also increase the bus lane operating hours on weekdays by 1 hour, to 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm.
Other work we will be doing includes:
- Increasing bus services (part of the New Network for the central suburbs).
- Restricting roadside parking during bus lane hours.
- Consolidating the number of bus stops from 28 to 24.
- Upgrading some bus stops, to allow room for buses to safely enter and exit the bus stop.
- Building out the kerb in some locations to stop double decker buses from hitting shop canopies.
- Changing some clearways to continuous bus lanes.
The improvements will be carried out in stages in late 2018.
Benefits
- Better infrastructure to enable frequent, faster interconnected bus services.
- Improved pedestrian safety.
- Quicker, safer access to bus stops for buses.
- Minimised disruption to other traffic with no-parking areas.
Timeline
- 2013 - Detailed design awarded. Public open days. Cycle route design completed.
- 2014 - Tender for cycle route awarded and construction started. Main corridor design completed.
- 2015 - Cycle route construction complete.
- 2016 - AT Board voted to commence the Dominion Road Bus lane improvements.
- 2017 - Public engagement on proposed improvements.
- 2018 - Bus lane improvements commence.
Project details
The extended bus lanes and other improvements on Dominion Road will facilitate the roll-out of the New Network for the central suburbs in July 2018.
Increased bus lane hours
When the bus lane improvements are completed, the lane operating hours will increase by 1 hour in the weekday mornings and evenings. City bound lanes will operate from 7am to 10am (instead of 9am), and south-bound from 4pm to 7pm (instead of 6pm).
Changes to bus stops
We are redistributing bus stops on Dominion Road to meet AT’s standard, 400m spacing. This will reduce the number of stops in the project area from 28 to 24.
Changes to parking
When the bus lanes are completed, there will be no roadside parking along the full length of Dominion Road on the affected side during bus lane operating hours.
Parking will be permitted on the other side of the road during peak hours and on both sides of Dominion Road, off peak.
Increasing the no-parking area around some bus stops (to allow room for buses to enter and leave the stop) will result in the loss of some parking spaces.
Details of proposed work by area
Zone 1: Between Horopito Street and View Road
Proposed works:
- Replacing the existing bus shelter outside 72 Dominion Road with a new shelter in the same place.
- Upgrading the bus stop at 72 Dominion Road with no-parking lines at either end and removing some parking spaces.
Proposal outcome:
- We will no longer be going ahead with these proposed works.
Zone 2: Between Bellevue Road and Onlsow Road
Proposed works:
- Removing the bus stop outside 166/172 Dominion Road and reallocating the kerb space to unrestricted on-street parking. Bus stops at 72, 262/270 Dominion Road or 78-82 View Road will be available for passengers.
- Installing permanent no-parking lines on both sides of the road at either end of the existing pedestrian crossing outside 166/172 Dominion Road. This will improve the sight lines for pedestrians looking to cross the road.
Proposal outcome:
- We will no longer be going ahead with these proposed works.
Zone 3: Between Onslow Road and Ewington Avenue
Proposed works:
- Converting the clearways to continuous bus lanes.
- Removing the bus stop outside 283 Dominion Road.
- Installing permanent no-parking lines on both sides of the road. The no-parking lines would improve the sight lines for pedestrians crossing at the crossing point outside 283 Dominion Road.
- Upgrading bus stop at 215 Dominion Road with no-parking lines at either end and removing some parking spaces.
Proposal outcome:
- The only work going ahead for Zone 3 is the clearways in this section will be made into a bus lane which will operate on weekdays during 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. All other proposed works will no longer be going ahead.
Zone 4: Between Ewington Avenue and Burnley Terrace
Proposed work:
- Upgrading existing bus stops outside 337-341 and 360 Dominion Road with new broken yellow lines at either end of the bus stop to allow room for buses to enter and leave the stop. This will remove some parking spaces.
Proposal outcome:
- We may need to remove some parking spaces and install 'No parking' lines to fit the double decker buses. We will communicate any parking changes when we have confirmed the design.
Zone 5: Between Milton Road and Mont Le Grand Road
Proposed works:
- Relocating the bus stop outside 428 Dominion Road to 472 Dominion Road.
- Adding a bus shelter outside 472 and removing the existing shelter outside 428.
- Replacing the bus stop outside 428 with 60-minute parking (8am to 4pm).
- Building out the kerb outside 425 Dominion Road to prevent double-decker buses from hitting shop canopies.
- Installing no-parking lines at either end of the current bus stop outside 425 to allow room for buses to enter and leave the stop. This will remove some parking spaces.
- Installing a new pedestrian crossing with refuge island outside 470 Dominion Road. This will include permanent no parking area on both sides of the road to improve the sight lines for pedestrians.
Proposal outcome:
- The only work going ahead for Zone 5 is building the kerb out to fit the double decker buses. We will communicate directly to affected properties when we have further details. All other proposed works will no longer be going ahead.
Zone 6: Between Mt Pleasant Road and Dexter Avenue
Proposed works:
- Relocating the bus stop outside 504-506 Dominion Road to 472 Dominion Road and adding a new bus shelter.
- Creating a new bus stop and shelter outside 588 Dominion Road.
- Replacing the bus stop with unrestricted parking outside 504-506 Dominion Road.
- Removing the bus stop outside 449-453 Dominion Road.
- Replacing the stop with 60 minute (10am to 6pm) parking outside 449-453 Dominion Road.
- Retaining the bus stops at 425 and 487 Dominion Road.
Proposal outcome:
- The bus stops at 425 and 487 Dominion Road will be kept at the current location. All other proposed works will no longer be going ahead.
Zone 7: Between Dunbar Road and Kensington Avenue
Proposed works:
- Changing the clearways on both sides of Dominion Road between Dunbar Avenue and Kensington Avenue to continuous bus lanes.
- Removing bus stops outside 591 and 654 Dominion Road.
- Replacing the stops with a parking space with the same time restriction as for other nearby parking.
- Installing new bus stops outside 588/600 and 651 Dominion Road.
- The new bus stop at 651 Dominion Road would have a new bus shelter.
- The shop canopies at 588/600 provide weather protection and no bus shelter is needed.
Proposal outcome:
- The only work going ahead for Zone 7 is the clearways in this section will be made into a bus lane which will operate on weekdays during 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. All other proposed works will no longer be going ahead.
Zone 8: Between Carmen Avenue and Shackleton Road
Proposed works:
- Installing new bus stops outside 732 and 854 Dominion Road.
- The new bus stop at 732 Dominion Road will have a new bus shelter.
- The shop canopy at 854 will provide weather protection and no new shelter is needed.
- Removing bus stops and bus shelters outside 673 and 790 Dominion Road. The stops will be replaced with parking with same time restrictions operating in the vicinity.
- Adding new no-parking areas at either end of the bus stops at 733-739 Dominion Road to allow room for buses to enter and leave the stop. This will remove some parking spaces.
- Installing a new and better bus shelter outside 733 Dominion Road.
- Installing a new pedestrian crossing with refuge island between 747/842 Dominion Road.
- Adding additional permanent no parking provision either side of the pedestrian crossing to improve the sight lines for pedestrians at the crossing point.
Proposal outcome:
- We will no longer be going ahead with these proposed works.
Zone 9: Between Lambeth Road and Foch Avenue
Proposed works:
- Installing new bus stops outside 948 Dominion Road and the corner of Hazel Avenue and Dominion Road. Both will have a new bus shelter.
- Removing the bus stop and shelter outside 882 Dominion Road and reallocating the space to unrestricted parking.
- Removing the bus stops and shelters outside 811 and 879 Dominion Road and re-allocating the space to 60-minute parking (10am to 6pm).
- Installing a new pedestrian crossing with refuge island outside 946 Dominion Road complete with permanent no parking on both sides of the road to improve sight lines for pedestrians.
Proposal outcome:
- We will no longer be going ahead with these proposed works.
Zone 10: Between northern intersection of Donald Crescent/Dominion Road and Cambrai Avenue
Proposed works:
- Installing new and better bus shelters outside 925 and 1202 Dominion Road.
- Creating short no-parking areas at either end of the bus stops to allow room for buses to enter and leave the stop. This will remove some parking spaces.
Proposal outcome:
- We will no longer be going ahead with these proposed works.
Zone 11: Between Mt Albert Road and Jasper Avenue
Proposed work:
- Changing the clearways on both sides of Dominion Road between Mt Albert Road and Jasper Avenue to continuous bus lanes.
Proposal outcome:
- The clearways in this section will be made into a bus lane which will operate on weekdays during 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. All other proposed works will no longer be going ahead.
Background
Congestion costs Auckland $1.5 billion a year in lost productivity and the environmental costs are significantly greater.
On Dominion Road, congestion occurs in the morning and evening peak traffic hours, primarily caused by single-occupant private vehicles.
The phenomenon started in 1956 when a transport plan was adopted which foresaw a future in which private vehicles were to provide the primary mode of commuter and leisure transport for private citizens. At the same time, a diminishing investment into alternatives such as public transport, rail in particular, walking and cycling was taking place.
As Auckland has become a “super city” with a population of more than 1 million and the historical emphasis on private vehicles has resulted in congestion problems and its associated costs.
However, statistics show that Dominion Road is a major commuter bus route, carrying about 2.9 million bus passengers a year and 23% more people commuting on buses during the morning peak than in cars.
Finding solutions to the congestion issues and introducing more reliable public transport options are key priorities for us in conjunction with Auckland Council, the Government and New Zealand Transport Agency.
Public engagement
We asked property owners and occupiers directly affected for feedback by the proposed works between 30 November 2017 to 13 December 2017.
We wanted to find out if there were any:
- Land development proposals or issues that may affect the planned changes.
- Site-specific safety issues that you think would affect the planned changes.
Feedback results
As a result from public feedback and a government decision to implement light rail transit on Dominion Road, we have modified the scope of the original project.
We will no longer be:
- removing or renewing any bus stops or bus shelters on that section of Dominion Road.
- installing new pedestrian crossings in this area.
We will still be:
- extending bus lanes along Dominion Road to provide an immediate solution for bus operations in this area, making them continuous between Horopito Street and Mt Albert Road.
- increasing the weekday bus lane operating hours by one hour to be, 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.
Work is expected to start late 2018 and we will need to undertake some additional, localised work to get Dominion Road ready for the introduction of double decker buses.
Read the full Dominion Road bus lane improvements feedback report (PDF 443KB)