Central Connector, Auckland

The Central Connector (formerly called Auckland Central Transit Corridor), is a bus rapid transit link (later on to potentially include light rail) [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=000700C0-DF42-1520-91D183027AF1010F Revamping Grafton Bridge to cost $7.3m] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Tuesday 03 October 2006] to run between the Britomart Transport Centre in the Auckland CBD, New Zealand, and the commercial-centre suburb of Newmarket. The associated bus priority measures are to improve journey times by about 14 minutes between Britomart and Newmarket for around to 2,600 buses per week and about 65,000 commuters daily. [" [http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/location/story.cfm?l_id=339&ObjectID=10380729 Brian Rudman: Let taxis use Grafton Bridge to ferry the sick to hospital] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Monday 08 May 2006] "Central Connector to improve bus travel times" - "CityScene", Auckland City Council newsletter, Sunday 09 March 2008] Work began in April 2008, and is expected be finished in early 2010, with the cost estimated at NZ$ 46 million (NZ$ 29.6 million for the main contract, awarded to Fulton Hogan)." [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10482247 Newmarket bus corridor gets nod] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Friday 14 December 2007] " [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=250&objectid=10424064 Cost of city-to-Newmarket busway doubles to $46m] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Thursday 15 February 2007]

After John Banks was elected as Mayor of Auckland City, in November 2007 he ordered a review of the project (which it eventually passed) as part of his promised crackdown on rate increases. This success was in big part due to the project being expected to cost Auckland City (according to late 2007 estimates) only NZ $8.5 million, with Land Transport New Zealand paying $20.5 million in addition to ARC regional funding of $13.7 million. Banks' first Council, before its 2004 defeat by Dick Hubbard, was also the originator of the project. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=536&objectid=10478511 Subsidies may not save $43m bus corridor] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Tuesday 27 November 2007]

Characteristics

The [http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/ctc/route.asp route] (external link, Auckland City Council) will go from Britomart via Symonds Street to Karangahape Road and then over Grafton Bridge to the Khyber Pass Road in Newmarket. On its way, it passes through the Auckland University campus areas and by the Auckland City Hospital and the Auckland Domain, all important public transport destinations.

The project would close Grafton Bridge to private vehicle traffic during the day, as the bridge becomes reserved for public transport (becoming a bus lane during 7am-7pm). This part of the project is being reviewed after some protests of users. In the process of the works, most of the streets of the route will also receive substantial overhauls, with for example, relaid footpaths and better cycling provisions (on the bus lanes where possible, on shared footpaths where not). Ten pedestrian crossings will also be improved and enlarged, especially around the university. The changes will also include the closure of Alfred Street (a side street of Symonds Street on the corridor route, currently bisecting the university campus in that area), to all traffic except Link and City Circuit buses from the end of 2006, [" [http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=194&objectid=10403146 Students welcome street closure] " - "New Zealand Herald", Wednesday 27 September 2006] as well as add new canopies over footpaths in the University areas.

References

External links

* [http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/ctc/default.asp Central Connector] (project webpage from Auckland City Council)