A proposed New Zealand busway may be opened much earlier than the planned 2028 date
Public transport improvements may arrive earlier for people in Auckland’s south east as Auckland Transport (AT) is aiming to open the full Southeastern Busway to Botany sooner than the 2028 completion date earlier proposed.
Recent work on the Auckland Manukau Transport Initiative (AMETI) has identified that the busway can operate through Pakuranga town centre without the need to build Reeves Road flyover first.
This allows funding to be used to deliver more public transport improvements sooner by deferring the $170 million flyover until next decade.
Auckland Transport AMETI programme director Peter King says the change means better transport choices for people in the area sooner and supports the roll out of the new public transport network in 2016.
“The recent decision on the Basin Reserve flyover in Wellington shows the challenges of consenting a flyover that has impacts on an urban area and the potential for long delays,” he says.
“This decision allows us to extend the AMETI transport improvements made in Panmure to Pakuranga and Botany as soon as possible while continuing to build the case for the flyover.”
Auckland Transport will update the community in early March on the new delivery plan for AMETI and a potential change to the busway route through Pakuranga town centre.
Consultation will be carried out on the latest design for the next construction stage between before a Notice of Requirement is lodged in April.
About 7.4 million trips a year are expected on the busway.