Auckland Council planners are backing a politician's call for a northwestern busway - but not at the cost of delaying the $2 billion Waterview motorway project.
Although Labour transport spokesman and Te Atatu MP Phil Twyford is pleased about support for the concept in a staff report, he is disappointed the Government's Transport Agency will not "future-proof" the motorway project for a dedicated off-road busway like that on the North Shore.
"My view is that we are going to need a full-service busway there within a decade," he said.
Transport Agency acting northern highways manager Steve Mutton said a 2010 study had indicated passenger demand for a busway was "decades away" and a plan to widen and extend shoulder lanes would suffice for now.
But Mr Twyford believes new plans by Auckland Transport to ramp up bus services along the motorway and through arterial feeder roads from 2016 to at least once every 15 minutes between 7am and 7pm, aided by passenger transfer stations at Te Atatu and Lincoln Rd, will fuel demand beyond predictions.
