Tauranga City Council has announced a major upgrade for the city’s second busiest bus hub, Arataki, following community calls for a safer environment around the key transport location.
New well-lit, high-capacity shelters featuring decorative cultural elements from local hapū will be installed on each side of the road, along with increased wayfinding signage and information boards, the Council says.
Other improvements include more streetlights and new CCTV monitoring, open seating, bike parking, rubbish bins, and landscaping.
“These upgrades will provide a friendlier welcome to Arataki, making bus travel more user-friendly and improving safety during transit,” the Council said in a statement.
“Improved pedestrian crossings, wider footpaths, and a new shared user path will make access safer and easier alongside the new pedestrian crossings on Girven Road, Maranui Street, and Oceanbeach Road.”
Construction will begin on Monday, 5 August and is expected to be completed in October 2024. To keep disruption to a minimum, works will take place from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with some noise and vibration to be expected during these times.
“As part of efforts to alleviate traffic congestion and improve the flow of pedestrian and vehicle movement in the area, Bay of Plenty Regional Council has committed to minimising layovers on surrounding streets and utilising a repurposed bus stop along Girven Road,” the Council said.
