Busway slow to get into gear

The first stage of development of the Hibiscus Coast Busway Station in Silverdale has been given the green light by independent commissioners, but it will be a year before work on the second stage – the dedicated park and ride facility – will begin.

Work on the first stage of the project, which involves the construction of 100 parking spaces and 500 metres of road linking Small Road to a new, signalised, intersection on Hibiscus Coast Highway, is expected to begin early in the New Year. That is provided that the independent commissioners’ decision, released late last month, is not appealed to the Environment Court by the owner of land opposite, Johns Creek Holdings, who made a submission against the busway development because of roading issues affecting connectivity to its site.

The consent includes the retention of a mature totara and the requirement to remove skinks under the terms of a Herpetological Management Plan, prior to the commencement of construction.

The focus of stage one of the busway is to provide dedicated parking and improve safety for people catching the bus or using the sports grounds opposite. The new intersection will include safe pedestrian access from the park and ride to the Silverdale War Memorial Reserve car park and adjacent sports grounds.

Auckland Transport had planned to have stage one in place before the Rugby World Cup in October, but was held up by resource consent issues including negotiations with neighbouring landowners. It is now expected to be complete next August.

The second stage will see the construction of buildings, sheltered areas and bus bays similar to the Albany bus station. When complete the facility will have about 500 park and ride spaces and space for cars to drop off passengers (known as ‘kiss and ride’). This stage is subject to consent approvals, with construction currently scheduled to begin in late 2012 with completion in the first half of 2013.

A planned review of Hibiscus Coast buses is likely to see an increase in services to the new station and on to the Northern Busway.