12 September 2011

Copy the successful Northern Busway says former North Shore Mayor

One solution to public transport problems facing Eden Park would be setting up a temporary busway to service Eden Park, says the former mayor of North Shore Andrew Williams.

"A few years ago when preparations were all kicking off I made this suggestion to some of those involved in the Rugby World Cup planning. Copy the successful Northern Busway was my suggestion then, it still stands, and it would work."

"All they need to do is temporarily dedicate a convenient route such as Upper Queen Street, connecting to Ian MacKinnon Drive and onto Dominion Road. Or alternatively use Symonds Street and New North Road, to create a fast efficient 'busway' on match days. A large fleet of buses could be leaving continuously from downtown, midtown and uptown to run along this controlled route, and the same route back after the games."

"It might take some extra police pointsmen and police to control the route, but it would provide a foolproof backup to the struggling rail system." says Andrew Williams.

"I also would like to see the fanzones at Albany, Manukau and Henderson opened sooner rather than waiting until the quarter finals. It was a fatal error to concentrate all of party central in the Auckland waterfront. It should have been an Auckland-wide party, not just in the CBD."

"North Shore City previously contributed over $1 million towards the Auckland region's costs of hosting of the Rugby World Cup, and for that contribution we had expected the Albany Lakes fanzone to be used throughout the tournament. The North Harbour Stadium has proven a great venue and the neighbouring Albany Lakes area should already be a key part of the Auckland RWC programme to take pressure off the central city." says Andrew Williams.

ENDS

© Scoop Media