More bus lanes will boost Halswell route
Bus lanes and trees will be added to a main Christchurch road to improve the reliability of bus services between Halswell and the central city.
Christchurch city councillors decided yesterday to add bus lanes to a 1.7-kilometre stretch of Lincoln Rd, between Whiteleigh Ave and Curletts Rd.
Work is expected to begin within a year and to cost $12 million, though that estimate has not yet taken into account rising construction costs. A total of 51% of the project’s costs should be covered by a government subsidy.
The work is essentially the middle section of a wider plan to install bus lanes from Halswell to the central city. Christchurch City Council is already building the first part – on the stretch of Lincoln Rd from Moorhouse Ave to Whiteleigh Ave – while from 2024 to 2026, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is expected to build the final stage on State Highway 75/Halswell Rd, between Curletts Rd and Dunbars Rd.
Once built, these three combined projects will provide 5km of unbroken bus lanes out to Halswell, which is Christchurch’s fastest growing suburb.
During yesterday’s council meeting, councillor Aaron Keown asked for evidence that bus lanes worked.
Council transport boss Lynette Ellis said there was relevant worldwide evidence that reliable public transport improved patronage. ‘‘None of these solutions are short-term solutions and you don’t see a quick result. We are building these facilities for the future Christchurch,’’ she said.
Keown questioned whether the bus lanes were the best way to spend $12m to address climate change, as people were still not getting on buses. Keown said $12m could be used to plant 1.2 million native trees and he called on colleagues to back their spending with evidence.
‘‘Start saving the planet, not saving your virtues,’’ he said.
Councillor Sam MacDonald said he was happy to give the upgrade a chance, commenting: ‘‘If it doesn’t work at least we’ll have two lanes on either side of the road to look at other modes [of transport].’’ Councillor Mike Davidson said the benefits of public transport expenditure would be realised ‘‘very, very shortly’’. ‘‘It’s a shame we have the constant moaners about public transport; maybe you should try riding it sometime and you’ll see the benefits yourself when there is a priority lane.’’
Council staff were not able to say how much journey times would change because of the new bus lanes, but councillor Sara Templeton said the lanes would make buses more reliable, because people would not get stuck in traffic. Templeton said 36 trees were being removed to add the bus lanes but more than 70 were being replanted. Main streets lined with trees – like Memorial Ave, Linwood Ave or Fendalton Rd – were really liked by residents and ‘‘that’s what this project will do’’.