Aerial view of the Octagon. Photo from ODT files.
Turning the central carriageway of the Octagon into a bus
station is one of six options the Dunedin City Council is being
asked to investigate.
The council working party set up to review the city's parking
policies also examined the issue of bus stops in the central
business district and the six options are part of its report
to tomorrow's extraordinary council meeting.
Party chairman Syd Brown told the Otago Daily Times
this week the two major public transport "pinch points" were
the bus stops in Princes St, between Moray Pl and the
Octagon, and the bus stops in George St, between Frederick
and Albany Sts.
The party's bus stop subgroup met Otago Regional Council
staff and two bus operators before reaching the conclusion
that "there is no simple solution" to the issues surrounding
the bus stops. It recommended the status quo remain while
further investigations were undertaken "into traffic flows in
the main street and in relation to the alleged tensions
between buses and other users".
It also recommended the council authorise an "overspend" so
the investigation could be started "immediately".
In addition to the six options listed in the party's report
(see fact box), the party also considered relocating the
Princes St bus stops to the Octagon, in front of the
theatres, but Mr Brown said "the disadvantages outweighed the
advantages" and more evaluation was required.
One option (option 5) would see kerb "protrusions" in each
block of the main street where buses would load and unload
passengers while motorists waited.
Mr Brown said this would give priority to buses and slow "the
progression of the whole main street flow".
The working party's report suggested option 5 would
"eliminate bus stop space and increase parking"; have a
minimal effect on passenger transport; and improve the
amenity value of the area as traffic was discouraged from
using the main street as a through route. Also, the cost
would be low.
The working party considered turning the central carriageway
of the Octagon into a bus station (option 1) would provide
parking in the block south of the Octagon; have a minimal
impact on passenger transport; detract from the amenity of
the Octagon as the outer carriageways became a roundabout;
and be expensive to build.
The idea of a transfer station north of the Octagon (option
3) would also be expensive but "could ease" the flow of
passenger transport.
Creating a "high-frequency core route" through the main
street (option 4) would reduce bus stop space and increase
parking; be "likely to discourage use" of buses because of
the need to transfer; and improve the amenity of the main
street with a reduced number of buses. The cost would be high
because of the need to build transfer stations at either end
of the main street.
Options involving a "core route" service through the main
street might make use of electric buses.
Mr Brown said an investigation, if approved by the council,
could also look at other options.
BUS STOP OPTIONS
Options suggested by the Dunedin City Council's parking
review working party.-
1. Relocate Princes St bus stops to the central
carriageway of the Octagon.
2. Relocate the northbound bus stop to the Octagon
central carriageway.
3. Construct a bus transfer station north of the
Octagon in the Moray Pl-Great King St area.
4. Consider a "high-frequency core route" through the
main street with transfer points at either end.
5. Remove all bus stops between Frederick St and Moray
Pl south and have the bus stop in the "through lane".
6. Have a high-quality and high-frequency core route
through the main street, with all other routes using a
transfer centre in Great King St between Moray Pl and the
Centre City Mall.
- mark.price@odt.co.nz
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