Dross swamps gloss as bus centre opens

By STUART DYE

None of the gloss of the Britomart train station unveiling was evident as the downtown bus terminal opened yesterday in Auckland.

For bus users, it was not a pretty sight.

Workmen were drilling the road, a pump sprayed water several feet into the air, bus shelters were incomplete and a large section of land remained cordoned off outside the shopping centre.

The opening coincided with the end of free parking in the CBD on Sundays.

Police were out with city council parking wardens to ensure everything "ran smoothly".

Dennis Green, Auckland's parking services team leader, said there had been a few minor traffic problems but nothing serious.

People were not charged to park yesterday; instead they were given warnings about the pay-and-display coming into force next weekend.

There were also traffic problems around Queen Elizabeth Square as motorists struggled with street changes.

Bus drivers have been training for two weeks for the new routes.

Transport chiefs said that in the long term the changes would help to ease congestion in the central business district.

"The street changes reflect a need to allow cars and buses to flow throughout downtown Auckland as efficiently as possible," said Greg McKeown, chairman of the Auckland City Council's transport committee.

"Buses are a huge part of the way forward for Auckland public transport. Bus services will complement rail, both by offering alternative routes and by supporting rail services through connecting at stations, allowing convenient rail-bus transfers."

On the move

* Only buses will be allowed access to Queen Elizabeth Square from Quay St and Customs St.

* Tyler St between QE Square and Commerce St will be changed from one-way eastbound to one-way westbound.

* The two-way from Galway St between QE Square and Commerce St will change to one-way westbound.

* Tyler St and Galway St will be for buses and access to buildings only.