Council proposes $7.7m upgrade to bus station
Hamilton’s oft-criticised central bus station could soon receive a $7.7 million revamp.
However, the plan is contingent on more than half the funding for the overhaul coming from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, as well as on buy-in from the city’s ratepayers.
The revamp of the transport centre is one of the big ticket items in the Hamilton City Council’s draft long term plan, which will soon be put before the public for their feedback.
The council has asked ratepayers to give the thumbs-up to what amounts to a total 8.9 per cent increase on their rates bill.
That figure is effectively made up of a 4.4 per cent increase in the general rate, plus what has been dubbed a ‘‘compliance targeted rate’’, largely to shoulder the cost of the Government’s ‘‘three waters’’ reforms, that is equivalent to an additional 4.5 per cent increase.
If the transport centre rejuvenation gets the green light, the proposed upgrade may begin later this year and be complete by late 2022.
The project is reliant on Waka Kotahi agreeing to a 51 per cent coinvestment subsidy.
The 20-year-old transport centre, on the corner of Bryce and Anglesea streets, has frequently been the object of derision from travellers and others due to dirty toilets and anti-social behaviour by some of the people who frequent it.
Councillor Angela O’Leary, who chairs the council’s infrastructure committee, agreed the centre ‘‘was not meeting community expectations’’.
‘‘There’s insufficient outdoor seating and poor weather protection. The mix of, and potential conflict between, people, buses and other vehicles is a real risk, so many users report feeling really unsafe.
‘‘And the existing facilities are certainly not meeting the needs of people with accessibility challenges because of narrow paths, obstructions, poor toilet facilities and no visual or audio aids. There’s no doubt we need to make significant improvements, and in my view we shouldn’t wait another 10 years to do it.’’
The improvements would include widened platforms with a bigger canopy, an extension to the existing building, and secure parking for bikes and scooters.
Fully accessible toilets as well as a full toilet upgrade, a 24-hour safe waiting area and improved ticketing facilities are also on the to-do list.
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said she supported the investment as part of wider efforts to encourage people to use public transport. Upgrading the centre was first mooted in the 2018-2028 long term plan, ‘‘so this proposal is not new’’.
‘‘The difference is our city is now investing more than ever before in initiatives which provide accessible, safe and realistic alternatives to using private cars, and that includes getting people on to buses,’’ Southgate said.
Public engagement on the council’s long term plan will run from March 5 to April 7.
Once armed with that feedback, the council will meet again to thrash out what spending will be left in and out of the plan, before striking the rate and signing off on the plan in June.