Passengers better protected with kitset bus shelter range

Bus passengers are offered better weather protection and solarpowered lighting from a new range of shelters due for consideration today by Auckland Transport’s board.

The range is based on one of three prototype shelters which were shortlisted and erected for public appraisal last year on Symonds St. Comprising timber, glass and recycled aluminium, the winning prototype recommended in an Auckland Transport staff report is being offered in three kit-set sizes to replace most of the Super City’s 1550 or so bus shelters, as budgets and outdoor advertising contracts allow.

Those materials are also envisaged for up to 20 larger “neighbourhood interchanges” catering for a redesign of the Super City’s public transport network, which will require passengers to make more connections between feeder services and fewer but high-frequency main routes.

Although most of the normal shel- ters will be rolled out as existing facilities approach the end of their lives, some are likely to be erected sooner to support key routes in the redesigned transport network.

Budget expectations when the staff report was written allowed for 100 new or replacement shelters for $3.6 million in 2015-16 and 90 in each of the following two years, for $2.2 million and $2.1 million respectively. But Auckland Council’s finance and performance committee last week approved an “accelerated” transport programme including provision for 600 new or upgraded bus stops over the next three years.

A large number of shelters maintained by outdoor advertising agency Adshel will be exempted from immediate replacement plans. AT says talks are in progress with Adshel to potentially move to a hybrid model where new shelters contain its displays with the intention of a complete takeover by the council body of advertising and infrastructure as contracts end in 8 to 10 years.