Bus network to be large part of new Christchurch transport infrastructure

Date: 15/11/2012

A draft transport plan has been unveiled, which outlines proposed changes to transport infrastructure in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The public are being encouraged to take a look at the proposals, which are designed to reconnect the city after the earthquake which caused so much disruption last year.

Gerry Brownlees, Earthquake Recovery Minister, has said that pedestrians, buses and cyclists will be given priority under the plans.

Cathedral Square will be made mainly pedestrian and the central business district will be subject to a 30 kilometre per hour speed limit.

Further to this the central streets will give pedestrians right of way and walkways will be put in place to Hagley Park.

A more wide-reaching Christchurch Central Recovery Plan was launched in July, but transport was excluded from this and given its own proposals separately.

Under the Accessible City draft Transport Plan it is hoped that more people will use buses to travel to and from the city centre.

The new infrastructure to be put in place will facilitate this and there will be bus stops positioned at margins of two city blocks.

A bus interchange will be situated in the block where Tuam, Colombo, Manchester and Lichfield streets all come together.

Tuam Street will be turned into a one-way system and Manchester Street will be widened under the plans.

As well as buses, passengers will be able to join up to an integrated transport network at the interchange, with coach airport transfers and taxis all operating from the location.

Bus routes are intended to see services run frequently all day and at ten minute intervals during the busiest periods.

Near the hospital a so-called 'super stop' will be put in place creating good access to the Metro Sports Facility, health precinct and South Frame.

Warwick Isaacs, Head of the Christchurch Central Development Unit, said: "It won't be hard to get around."

An extra 6,000 off-street parking spaces will also be added under the plans.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News