A 3D visualisation rendering of Cameron Rd showing a new layout on both sides of road. Photo/supplied
A 3D visualisation rendering of Cameron Rd showing a new layout on both sides of road. Photo/supplied
Do away with parking spots along Cameron Rd. Buses running every 15 minutes in a dedicated lane. A green cycle highway. Electric bike stations with solar panel charging.
This bold vision for turning Cameron Rd into a multimodal transport backbone of the city has been submitted to the city council for the Annual Plan.
The architect and mayoral contender who put forward the idea for a light rail system down Cameron Rd has scaled his vision back and has submitted an idea more "palpable".
Mark Wassung wants a better public transport future in Tauranga.
Architect Mark Wassung has a vision to improve public transport in Tauranga. Photo/file
There would be a separate zone with native grasses alongside and then a bright red designated bus lane with red buses coming every 10-15 minutes from 6am to 9pm.
Cameron Rd would still have two lanes for private cars - the road was currently wider than it needed to be and lines could be repainted to make lanes narrower, Mr Wassung said.
In the end, the multimodal transport would ideally go from the racecourse into town, but Mr Wassung said in the first stage it could go from the hospital into town, linking in with the Historic Village on 17th Ave.
When you're driving your car and stuck in two lanes of traffic and see a bus and cyclist go flying past you and think 'what am I doing in my car, I need to make a change.'
"At the moment the bus service is infrequent, unreliable and on the hour. I'm proposing a frequent, reliable, age- and cycle- friendly and memorable service," he said.
There were 10 schools near Cameron Rd and an improved bus, and cycle lane would get car traffic off the road.
Mr Wassung said the green bike lane and red buses and bus lane would need to be highly visible and given priority to encourage a behavioural shift in Tauranga residents.
"I'm really keen on changing people's perspective by visualisation. When you're driving your car and stuck in two lanes of traffic and see a bus and cyclist go flying past you and think 'what am I doing in my car, I need to make a change'."
Mr Wassung said he had "no idea" how much his ideas would cost.
"We need to have a plan and then leverage money from different places. I'm suggesting it be a combination of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Tauranga City Council, perhaps the Port and the Government.
"I don't expect one group to fund it or control it, it should be community-led, and everyone helps craft it, so it becomes of the people for the people."
