Back to the future for Wellington buses

Pedestrian-only Manners Mall could be transformed into a road for buses in a radical rethink of Wellington's city centre.

Wellington City Council's proposal would let buses travel in both directions through the mall, linking Courtenay Place to Willis St.

It is a back-to-the-future plan, as buses would take the same route they followed till the late 1970s when Manners Mall was created.

Several traffic lights would be bypassed, making bus travel quicker and more reliable.

Motorists and pedestrians would have faster journey times as intersections shared with buses would be reduced.

Sections of Manners St would also be altered under the proposal, which would make buses travelling in opposite directions use the same streets.

The public transport corridor created would be suitable for a light rail system, as suggested in the Ngauranga-to-airport study.

The mall's public space could be replaced by small squares outside McDonald's and Burger King.

About 50 new on-street car parks would be created along bus-free Dixon, lower Cuba and Wakefield streets. Mercer St would also be bus-free, and part of it could be used for a new public park linked to Civic Square.

The preferred option is one of four contained in the council's Golden Mile bus priority plan, which includes participation from Greater Wellington regional council and New Zealand Bus.

The partly completed draft plan was revealed yesterday after lobbying by city councillor Jo Coughlan saw the council ditch a decision for bus lanes along Courtenay Place.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast said the changes would work alongside the new Snapper ticketing system and the proposed real-time bus timetable system to cut city centre travel times.

"It has the side-effect in Manners Mall of turning a space that does not work, and hasn't worked for a long time, into a space that will work."

Andy Foster, the council's urban development and transport portfolio leader, said more work would be done to ensure benefits for shopkeepers.

"But the 50 car parks that this plan would create is significant. It would be the biggest improvement in on-street parking that we have had for yonks ... probably decades."

How many travelling minutes the new route would shave off bus and car journeys through the city had not been established.

The proposal's cost is not yet known, but the biggest expense would be installing overhead trolley wires. Funding would be sought from organisations including the New Zealand Transport Agency. Fees from the extra car parks would also contribute.

Evaluations will continue before the draft goes before councillors on October 9. The public will also be consulted.

- © Fairfax NZ News