A controversial bus shelter on Rodney Street in Wellsford will be moved following complaints from the Wellsford Volunteer Fire Brigade that it is causing visibility issues for its fire appliance drivers.
The bus stop is located to the left of the Wellsford Fire Station entrance and caters for eight buses a day.
Brigade secretary Rebecca Brady says when buses and trucks are parked by the shelter, engine drivers cannot see the traffic heading south.
“There have been lots of near misses and we’re lucky no one has had an accident yet,” Rebecca says.
The brigade is also concerned about people parking across the front of the station while they drop off or pick up bus passengers.
Brigade representatives and Rodney Local Board member Colin Smith met with NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) principal traffic and safety engineer highways and network operations Brian Rainford on May 12. As a result, NZTA has agreed to re-locate the stop and will investigate an alternative location.
The bus shelter was originally on Station Road before being moved near the old Wellsford War Memorial Library and then to its current location more than 20 years ago.
The Wellsford brigade opposed the location of the shelter in the 1990s and put its case forward to then Rodney councillor Grahame Powell. However, no action was taken.
The concept of installing lights to warn traffic that engines would be leaving the station was put forward in the 1990s, but the brigade was told they would have to raise the funds to cover the project themselves.
The discussion was reignited when Rebecca spoke to Mr Smith last December.
“The road is a lot busier than it used to be and I told Colin that something needs to be done,” she says.
“Nothing gets documented because there hasn’t been an accident yet, but it is only a matter of time.”
Mr Smith says one of the difficult parts in dealing with the issue was confirming whether the responsibility was with NZTA or Auckland Transport (AT).
“At first I was told AT dealt with all 50km speed areas, but then I was told NZTA is in charge of state highways,” Mr Smith says.
“Then there was the discussion that NZTA manages between the pavement kerbs and AT handles the pavement area, so no one wanted to take responsibility.”
Mr Smith believes moving the shelter back to its original location on Station Road will be the best outcome.
