North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Northern Busway extension
The Northern Busway is set to be extended from its existing end point at Constellation bus station up to Albany station.
The extension will be delivered as part of the $700 million Northern Corridor Improvements project, with construction of the busway beginning in 2018 and completed by 2021.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) who will fund the project say community feedback has shown a high commuter demand for a busway extension to Albany.
‘‘The Northern Busway has been a hugely successful investment, providing an efficient public transport link to and from the city centre and within the North Shore,’’ NZTA Auckland highway manager, Brett Gliddon, says.
The extension will see an additional Rosedale road bus station in between Constellation and Albany, and a five kilometre walking and cycling path along its eastern side.
While positive about the busway extension announcement, transportblog spokesperson, Matt Lowrie, calls for prudent scheduling relative to the construction of the connecting highway between the Northern Motorway and Upper Harbor Highway:
‘‘I’d like to see the busway built first as it would have an added benefit of giving people options during the inevitable disruption that will occur during the construction of the motorway.’’