Click photo to enlarge
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
Buses in Octagon
Two points. Have you ever noticed that whenever the ODT prints a story about what the Council is up to it is usually that option that prevails. It seems to me that though there may well be many options, the one we get to hear about first is the Council's preferred option which they are now trying to sell us. Secondly, in answer to the conspiracy theory comment below, being an avid follower of current affairs, it has been shown to me time and again that if it smells like a rat, it is one or one has been there. Only the gullible would not question information that comes out about their government's activities. If it's wrong then great, but often there is a modicum of truth there somewhere and that needs exposing by someone. God Bless those that do the dirty work of turning over the stone for those that are too trusting of others (or brainwashed/ or have a vested interest)so that we can see whats really going on, and have the option to try to make our own decisions. It's all too clear that what passes for democracy in this world is an attempt to make us feel like we are controlling our own destiny while others run it for us. You only have to look at council's activities to see that in action. I rest my case.
What is the problem with the bus stops?
Perhaps the DCC should begin by explaining what exactly the "issue" with the bus stops is before they decide to spend more money. The article didn't seem to say. A candid answer would be appreciated. (I'm not holding my breath)
Lunacy
To consider turning the middle of the Octagon into a bus station is bad enough, but suggesting that buses be used as moving road-blocks as a way to discourage other traffic, takes the Fruitloop-Moonbat prize of the year. The sad thing is that they have learned nothing from implementing their widely hated, economically destructive Parking (Reduction) Strategy which also aimed to discourage CBD traffic. We should all be concerned at the quality of our Council's decision making; I hope that sanity will soon prevail.
Octagon bus plan
I couldn't have said it better ..... lunacy complete lunacy , the rest of the world are trying to get rid of traffic but good ole "progressive" Dunedin wants to put a bus station in the middle of the city ....surely they jest ? Oh right and have our shores full of the oil business.
Ghost Town Dunedin
So kris, you and the DCC seem to be together with getting rid of cars and discouraging economic development. It sounds like you want to get rid of buses as well. Is this because you have been listening to the doom-merchants preaching about their end-of-the-world global warming apocalypse?
Dunedin is a great city; it got that way mainly by being prosperous. Mung beans, worm farms and bicycles are not the way to Dunedin's future prosperity.
Yet another stupid idea
This council seems to lurch from one bad suggestion to another. Noisy, diesel-belching buses stopping and starting whilst people are trying to enjoy the cafe lifestyle of the Octagon?
Why not banish the buses completely to the one-way roads to the east and let people walk the two or three blocks to George Street. The other idea of buses stopping traffic is clearly ludicrous and apparently designed to annoy motorists rather than providing a clear benefit. What proportion of people use buses anyway? This seems to be aimed at inconveniencing the majority to give a slight benefit to the minority.
octagon buses
Sparrowhawk, you have been hanging round the conspiracy theorists and now your own thinking is perverted. It's not a bus depot in the sense of where buses are parked up, rather a central city transport node where you can board and change buses for all destinations. Great idea and perfectly logical.
Bus station in Octagon? Bad idea...
Now the Octagon is full of bars and cafes with outside seating, why make the central carriageway a bus station? Maybe (and it's a big maybe) if our buses were all electric, just possibly, it could be an idea, but they're not, they're diesel.
Have you been at a bus stop and inhaled the fumes? Why on earth would the DCC consider doing this? We need to get the buses away from the Octagon altogether in my view.
Buses in Octagon
I agree. We are into crisis management now. Having committed us to pay for the Stadium, revenue raising ventures are a premium for the DCC. So parking changes occur with a swathe of other increases we weren't supposed to have noticed. When we did and complained, they are now frantically coming up with ever more bizarre solutions to the problems they are causing. We haven't seen the end of debacle yet that's for sure.
Bus terminal in Octagon
Dunedin is a beautiful city. Compared with Auckland CBD which I visited recently, it is stunning and very user friendly. What on earth makes the council think that having a bus depot in the middle of its crowning glory makes it better? Let's apply for historic towns registration before this council messes up anything else. There is a perfectly good bus depot down Princes St. All we need are shuttle buses to New World from there and everything is fine. Better to make it a mall than a depot. Get real.
I suspect this is really ...
I suspect this is really about parking and opening up more short term parking on the main street for down town businesses
I think the center of the Octagon is blessed by not having such a use - why not close it, direct traffic around it and put the bus stops in the Lower Octagon (there are already chairs for people to sit on!)
If you really really want to do this right move the buses off the main street, and make Moray Place/GtKing/Fileull one way to carry them.
Dont do that
Wellington has a great public transport system because it runs through the heart of the city along Lampton Quay and Courtenay Place. Public transport adds a level of activity and vitality to main streets, to move it away/alongside will only deprive George St and Princes St of this activity.