3-people cars take priority

Three key roads in North Shore City are to be set aside for buses and vehicles with three or more occupants, in a bid to make public transport and car pooling more attractive.

Council infrastructure chairman Tony Barker said the measures would give citizens what they wanted - faster bus travel.

The new transit lanes were approved in Constellation Drive, Forrest Hill Rd and Shakespeare Rd.

Bus-only acceleration lanes would be provided on East Coast Rd, between Milford and Forrest Hill Rd. Traffic lights would be installed at the intersection of East Coast and Aberdeen Rds.

Mr Barker said the city's first transit lane, on Onewa Rd, brought an increase in bus use and car pooling and buses were running quickly.

But motorists who use Onewa Rd to get to work say their car journeys have taken longer as a result of buses getting priority.

The transit lanes will be ready in time for the opening of the Northern Busway's park and ride station at Constellation Drive.