Christchurch City Council says a number of bus priority projects will be completed over the next three years after the Urban Development and Transport Committee confirmed $5 million in funding for the programme.
The planned bus priority measures are on Lincoln Rd between Whiteleigh Ave and Wrights Rd (already open for consultation), Riccarton Rd (between Matipo St and Waimairi Rd), Cashmere Rd, Gloucester St and Shirley Rd. Investigation into bus priority measures on Ferry Rd will also begin.
Urban Development and Transport Committee Chair, Mike Davidson says bringing forward the bus priority works will improve the reliability and service of Christchurch’s public transport networks.
“As Christchurch continues to grow, we need to have the public transport infrastructure in place to ensure that bus use is a cost-effective, attractive and reliable way for people to move around the city,” Cr Davidson says.
“Bus stops, shelters, real-time information and Lincoln Rd bus priority measures were already approved as part of the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan, but bringing these other projects forward will greatly improve the services that our buses provide.”
The projects will be paid for by the government’s Christchurch Regeneration Acceleration Facility, which allows for $600,000 to be spent in the 2021-2022 financial year, $900,000 in 2022-2023 and $3.5 million in $2023-2024.
As part of the approved works package, bus detection systems and intersection improvements will also be investigated on all routes.
The Committee also resolved that staff look at bringing additional funding forward so that investigation work on further bus priority projects can be undertaken. This will enable Council to be in a position to potentially advance public transport works in the next Long Term Plan, Cr Davidson said.
