Dominion Rd to get transport overhaul

A public transport overhaul along Dominion Rd has business owners worried.

From June Auckland Transport (AT) will extend bus lanes for two hours a day on Dominion Rd, which goes through Mt Eden, Balmoral and Mt Roskill.

The new bus lane times will be from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.

Bus lanes are stretches of roads exclusively used by buses during prescribed times. Outside bus lane hours they can be used by other vehicles and are often available to be used for car parks.

Double-decker buses will be introduced next year and Dominion Rd has been confirmed as the preferred route for light rail in the next 30 years.

Before doubled-deckers are introduced Dominion Rd would need veranda modifications, tree trimming and pole relocations.

The changes come after the council controlled organisation shelved plans for a ‘‘four lane rapid transit system’’ on Dominion Rd in 2010 after an outcry from local businesses.

The 2010 plan included 24-hour bus lanes and widening the road to include a cycle lane.

Dominion Rd Business Association chairman Chris Hammonds said the association was concerned about extending the bus lane from 9am to 10am and 6pm to 7pm as it would have a negative impact on businesses because of the loss of parking spaces.

He said business owners on Dominion Rd were unaware of the changes.

‘‘We were told by AT that these new bus lane hours are going to be introduced Auckland wide so we didn’t have any say in the matter,’’ Hammonds said.

Vanilla Ink Boutique’s owner Susan Duckworth said the decision to lengthen bus lane times came as a bit of a blow.

‘‘It’s a hard situation to negotiate, public transport has to improve but we struggle because if people can’t park they won’t stop,’’ Duckworth said.

Duckworth was also concerned her signage would have to change to make way for double decker buses.

However, commuters were more receptive to the changes.

Allison Wells said welcomed the changes.

Mount Roskill resident Lotu Ahokava said extending the hours of bus lanes was useful.

‘‘Lots of people finished late and would miss out on the bus lanes so I think this will be better,’’ Ahokava said. she