Media Release

1st October 2013

Bus Rapid Transport the best way forward, says Chamber

Bus Rapid Transport is the best public transport option for Wellington but there are risks and concerns around it that will need to be addressed, Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has told the Wellington Regional council.

The Chamber’s comments are contained in its submission to the council’s Public Transport Spine Study. The study has identified three passenger transport options for the corridor from the Railway Station to Newtown and Kilbirnie – Light Rail, Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) and Bus Priority Measures.

The Chamber says BRT is the best option “based on it having the highest overall benefit-cost ratio and the highest transport benefits”.

“We have surveyed our membership on this issue. Of the businesses who felt they had enough information on the three options, 43.4% have expressed a preference for BRT.”

The Chamber says it was not surprised Light Rail was found to be the least effective, because of the expense of the track and dedicated tunnel, and its relative inflexibility.

“A key strength of BRT is that the vehicles can carry on further than Light Rail and are flexible (because they are not bound by the track layout) and so there is much more potential for passenger growth under this option.”

But the Chamber says BRT “raises some risks and concerns we recommend be addressed in the design of the system”.

“The biggest downside of BRT (also shared by Light Rail) is that segregated, dedicated lanes take up road space currently used by general traffic both for driving and parking.  

“Totally closing off road space for other vehicles during business hours, as is proposed, means that businesses in the CBD will be inaccessible by vehicles. 

“We agree that the Golden Mile should not be a main vehicle thoroughfare - alternative routes exist for that purpose - but neither should cars be totally banned from these streets.  Preventing cars from accessing Lambton Quay and Willis St to drop off or pick up passengers is seen to disadvantage local businesses which rely on ease of access for their customers as well as employees. 

“Likewise, a reduced number of short-term parks and loading zones would be problematic for business and could have negative impacts on the CBD’s economic output. 

“The customer-facing businesses on Lambton Quay and Willis St, which are already facing pressures, are particularly dependent on road access and parking for their customers’ and employees’ convenience.  

“In designing the final BRT system, it will be important to minimise the amount of road space closed off to the general public and short-term parking.  Any reductions in car park numbers would require parking capacity on nearby streets.”

The Chamber opposes the idea of restricting commuter parking or increasing parking charges as a way of encouraging passenger transport. 

“We suggest that instruments such as congestion charges and tolls, likely to be introduced when the Road of National Significance is completed, will be a far better way of modifying transport behaviour.”

The Chamber strongly supports the Bus Priority Measures as an interim solution until the BRT would be fully in place in 2021.

Chief Executive Raewyn Bleakley says the Chamber put a lot of time into the submission because the final choice of public transport system will help shape Wellington’s transport system for decades to come.

“It’s important that we get this right, because the more efficient the public transport system is, the more people will use it, and the more road space will be freed up for vehicles that help drive the local economy.”
You can access the submission online.

ENDS

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