Sandringham Rd bus services expanded

Sixteen extra bus services and more bus lanes are being provided on Sandringham Rd to cope with the local demand for public transport.

When the Auckland City Council surveyed morning peak services in March, four out of 10 buses had no standing room when they reached Balmoral Rd and three-quarters of the buses were full by the time they reached New North Rd.

Stagecoach started nine new morning bus services and seven evening services on April 28, bringing the number of weekday bus services on Sandringham Rd to 251, 79 more than two years ago.

Meanwhile, the council's transport committee yesterday approved 2.5km of new bus lanes on Sandringham Rd and New North Rd.

In response to safety and parking concerns, the committee decided not to extend the bus lane on Sandringham Rd from Kowhai Intermediate School to Reimers Ave and outside the Burnley Tce shops and Edendale Public School.

It will investigate other possibilities.