Quick Wins for Auckland Transport

[Nick R]

As long as it still has all the existing information, adding colour to differentiate the lines at first glance will not disadvantage the colourblind.

[Yasukiwi]

@Matt on P4... Yeah I agree with trials for blocking off sections of Queen Street. They block of parts of Shinjuku, one of the big, if not biggest shopping districts in Tokyo every Sunday. Also went to Perth recently and great to see the pedestrian only CBD there. Much better than AKL`s CBD by miles!

Quick "fix" rather than win: The waiting time @ Papakura for pax transferring from Pukekohe-Papakura shuttles on new timetable is 15mins. How many times have is it been mentioned on this forum that if making people transfer, the transfer has to be quick and not leave people hanging for ages. There`s no way the transfer time should take 15mins @ Papakura! There should be enough confidence to at least have the shuttle arriving only 5-6 mins before the train to Britomart departs Papakura.

[john-ston]

Quick "fix" rather than win: The waiting time @ Papakura for pax transferring from Pukekohe-Papakura shuttles on new timetable is 15mins. How many times have is it been mentioned on this forum that if making people transfer, the transfer has to be quick and not leave people hanging for ages. There`s no way the transfer time should take 15mins @ Papakura! There should be enough confidence to at least have the shuttle arriving only 5-6 mins before the train to Britomart departs Papakura.

Yasukiwi, those aren't shuttles - the transfers are for people wanting to head via the other line (so for instance, if the Pukekohe train is going via Newmarket, then the transfer is for people wanting to head via Glen Innes).

[Yasukiwi]

How right you are JJ. My bad. For some unknown reason the first time I glanced at the new timetables I thought there was just a shuttle and then people had to go via the other line after a considerable wait sometimes. Anyway my bad and at least something that doesn`t need fixing

[Harbourlights]

Hi, well just one or to ideas.... They should re arrange the New Lynn terminus so as bus go in a direct route to where they are heaing. Before this 'new' centre became a reality a bus was through the terminus in a couple of minutes. Now a driver can lose several minutes. For example, the downtown bus via Great North road now must go via Clark Street first then make its way back to the Great North Road while the Sandringham road bus uses Totara Ave, then it has to find its way to Clark Street. Just a VERY SIMPLE case of a little re arrangement really.
The traffic light phasing is all to hell anyway....Sometimes one can sit at the Totara Ave / Great North Road lights for three minutes.....

Another idea while I think of it. Get this intergrated ticketing up and running. And for the sanity of Auckland, avoid NZ Bus Snapper System. This company is forcing a system on to Auckland which no one except them really want....

The first idea could be implemented instantly and give would be passengers a little quicker...

RS

[nz_aj]

If we are going to be installing new PIDs at other stations anyway, I propose installing proper PIDs and not these primitive ugly orange things which can barely display a sentence.
I would love to have something like this ---> http://tinyurl.com/2eqwrd3

These screens are also common in China where they also show advertising, a similar arrangemnt here might enable their introduction?

11) Cycleway along the tracks next to rail when electrification is completed - great idea, I think this is happening along the western line

That's a great idea, nice & straight & a relatively flat grade

5. We should enforce and fine smoky vehicles -- pollution in Auckland from car fumes is much worse than many cities!!

Some kind of emissions standards for buses entering the CBD. Some buses are really smokey. This makes PT look bad.

I've noticed a few cars blowing smoke lately & there was a small purple bus that passed me on wednesday morning that was probably the blackest, sootiest exhaust I've ever seen (think fire hose shooting photocopier toner). Something really needs to be done.

[Nick R]

Extend the NEX to Newmarket via the Central Connector.

[JoeH]

9 -I was thinking the high frequency corridors should be bus lanes from 7am to 7pm thereabouts. All the Blines, Great South Rd from the Harp of Erin north and from Britomart to the Harbour Bridge (this maybe already?) I see on many occasions buses getting stuck in general traffic and cars parked on the part time bus lanes. Perhaps a half way measure of bus lanes from 6am - 10am and 3pm - 7pm with the eventual aim of being fulltime.

10 -From Onehunga Mall/Trafalgar St to Manukau Rd is the predominant route for Buses from Onehunga to Royal Oak (although the route from the Transport Centre to Trafalgar St differs for some of them).

Agree with you about the high frequency corridors. I suspect the real problem between Onehunga and Royal Oak is actually the roundabout, not the lack of a bus lane. Each drive through that roundabout is a dice with danger - the structure and behaviour of traffic makes it difficult to obey the road rules to the letter. I say replace this roundabout with lights and perhaps look at a priority light for the buses. Another option would be to reroute more buses away from the roundabout, such as more travelling by Pah Road either along Beachcroft ave or further along Trafalgar St to Pah Road. While the 348 and 335 are the fastest buses into town it is unfortunate they often don't keep to time due to their awful windy route through Mangere.

IMHO the real benefit of a bus lane would be further up Manukau Road between Royal Oak/Epsom and the start of the central connector. Thats where I find the most significant slowdowns occur.

My list of quick wins (so far)

1. the most significant and achievable win before 2013 will be the introduction of integrated ticketing and the efficiencies in the network this will enable (universal gross ticketing contracts will help too). If Auckland Transport could get Thales to deliver parts of this project early this would strategic advantages in ensuring their chosen ticketing product is able to minimise the spoiling efforts of other companies that lost that tender fair and square.
2. All bus contracts based on gross contracting model. Auckland Transport would have a clear route planning mandate - if a bus company does not want to run a route they can choose not to bid on it.
3. Replace Royal Oak Roundabout with lights
4. Bus lanes on Manukau Road between Epsom and the Central Connector.
5. Bus service from Airport to Onehunga to support the reopened branch line and to help build patronage for the eventual extension of the line to the airport. This could also provide the impetus to move to half hour off peak Onehunga rail services, and passenger expectations of a train every half hour at all times will help build patronage.
5. Reorganise the bus routes travelling across the Mangere Bridge into local feeder services to support Onehunga rail station, alongside more direct routes through Mangere/Mangere Bridge for faster and more reliable services.

Joe

[john-ston]

Here is another quick win

Extend the 009 to Pakuranga Plaza - it would only require an additional five to ten minutes on the timetable (just leave Sylvia Park, head up Mount Wellington Highway, turn right into Waipuna Road and then straight through to Pakuranga Plaza). That would open up a wide range of destinations, as it would no longer require up to two additional transfers for someone coming out of the Eastern Suburbs to get to places - it would be a simple transfer at Pakuranga Plaza.

[axio]

Give the entire southbound off-ramp from the Northern Motorway at Constellation a bus lane and/or fix the signalling.

Here's the problem: the only way the bus traffic-light from the off-ramp to Constellation station goes 'green' is if there is a bus on the short bus lane adjacent to Constellation Drive. The problem is that traffic frequently backs up the on-ramp enough that the bus can't reach the short bus lane. So what happens is when the lights go green the bus travels forwards to the short bus lane but and then has to wait a for another phase to continue to the station.

[Chris Randal.]

Either bring back Chris White or sack Veolia

[supermathu]

- Rename Fruitvale Rd station to Kelston station

That's quite a good idea actually. Would be more useful in letting people know where in Auckland the station is.


In general, some great ideas coming through. Keep them coming and I'll collect up the ideas, perhaps with some comments, in a few days' time. It would be particularly useful if we can work out a good "argument" for each of the improvements.

I envisage taking a list to Auckland Transport and/or Auckland Council, with the list having the project and then a paragraph or two saying why this is a good idea.

Nice idea!

[jimbot]

Convert the rear SA carriage in each set, to a similar setup as the SD carriages, with a wheel chair ramp and some [list=]fold up seats. Especially in the 6 car sets. This would help with dwell times when you have someone requiring the the ramp, or with a pushchair or bike, waiting in the middle of the platform because they don't know which end to go to.

[kaiwhara]

Not easy to do as the SA cars get swapped between sets regularly as maintanance requires, and they don't always end up as end cars in sets...

Convert the rear SA carriage in each set, to a similar setup as the SD carriages, with a wheel chair ramp and some [list=]fold up seats. Especially in the 6 car sets. This would help with dwell times when you have someone requiring the the ramp, or with a pushchair or bike, waiting in the middle of the platform because they don't know which end to go to.

[Matt L]

Either bring back Chris White or sack Veolia

Don't know Chris White but I was thinking about the whole Veolia thing myself, AT needs to be in charge even if Veolia are employing the staff. People don't care that Veolia run the trains for AT who also has to deal with Kiwirail etc, they just want someone to be responsible for things

[eurokiwi78]

ReRoute the 008 Crosstown direct from Church St into Gt South Rd so its a more direct service between Onehunga and Otahuhu (rather than going from Church and Orourke to Gt South Rd).

Surely between the 392, 009 and Onehunga Trains there is sufficient options between Onehunga and Penrose now.

[kaiwhara]

Better still, route the 009 through there to shorten its running time to allow it time to be rerouted through Lynfield as per what local residents wanted but ARTA didn't want because it wouldn't be cost or time neutral. I drove a loop from White Swan Rd at Hillsborough Rd to White Swan Road at Griffen Park Road running via Hillsborough, Commodore, The Avenue, Hillsborough and Griffen Park, and even in traffic, this only took me 4 minutes, and is a length of 2.4km. At the moment, Lynfield had no link with Blockhouse Bay or New Lynn without "walking up a bloody great hill".

Personally I cannot see why this would not be of use to local residents, being one myself...

ReRoute the 008 Crosstown direct from Church St into Gt South Rd so its a more direct service between Onehunga and Otahuhu (rather than going from Church and Orourke to Gt South Rd).

Surely between the 392, 009 and Onehunga Trains there is sufficient options between Onehunga and Penrose now.

[eurokiwi78]

Better still, route the 009 through there to shorten its running time to allow it time to be rerouted through Lynfield as per what local residents wanted but ARTA didn't want because it wouldn't be cost or time neutral. I drove a loop from White Swan Rd at Hillsborough Rd to White Swan Road at Griffen Park Road running via Hillsborough, Commodore, The Avenue, Hillsborough and Griffen Park, and even in traffic, this only took me 4 minutes, and is a length of 2.4km. At the moment, Lynfield had no link with Blockhouse Bay or New Lynn without "walking up a bloody great hill".

Do you mean have the 009 turn left from Church into Gt South then right into Penrose Rd and as per existing route to Sylvia Park?

I also think it should be extended to Pakuranga as per Johnstons idea.

[kaiwhara]

Yep, Ill go along with Both and keep the 008 as is.

Better still, route the 009 through there to shorten its running time to allow it time to be rerouted through Lynfield as per what local residents wanted but ARTA didn't want because it wouldn't be cost or time neutral. I drove a loop from White Swan Rd at Hillsborough Rd to White Swan Road at Griffen Park Road running via Hillsborough, Commodore, The Avenue, Hillsborough and Griffen Park, and even in traffic, this only took me 4 minutes, and is a length of 2.4km. At the moment, Lynfield had no link with Blockhouse Bay or New Lynn without "walking up a bloody great hill".

Do you mean have the 009 turn left from Church into Gt South then right into Penrose Rd and as per existing route to Sylvia Park?

I also think it should be extended to Pakuranga as per Johnstons idea.

[Akarana]

Better still, route the 009 through there to shorten its running time to allow it time to be rerouted through Lynfield as per what local residents wanted but ARTA didn't want because it wouldn't be cost or time neutral. I drove a loop from White Swan Rd at Hillsborough Rd to White Swan Road at Griffen Park Road running via Hillsborough, Commodore, The Avenue, Hillsborough and Griffen Park, and even in traffic, this only took me 4 minutes, and is a length of 2.4km. At the moment, Lynfield had no link with Blockhouse Bay or New Lynn without "walking up a bloody great hill".

Do you mean have the 009 turn left from Church into Gt South then right into Penrose Rd and as per existing route to Sylvia Park?

I also think it should be extended to Pakuranga as per Johnstons idea.

And ruin H&E's monopoly out east?! I kinda miss having the 375 terminating at Pakuranga. Twas a hell of a long bus route though from Pakuranga to Botany to Manukau to Papatoetoe to the Airport. At least it was an NZ bus service where you could use a stored value card on other routes across Auckland not just along the eastern corridor!