Changes Made for New Cruise Ship Shuttle Stop

Dunedin (Wednesday, 1 October 2014) – Motorists will notice a couple of changes in the Octagon in preparation for the cruise ship season.

Some road markings have been altered and signs are going up today as part of trial which will see shuttle buses dropping off and picking up passengers on the lower, eastern side of the Octagon carriageway, rather than on the upper side.

Dunedin City Council General Manager Infrastructure and Networks Tony Avery says the changes have been introduced following feedback from key stakeholders such as the New Zealand Transport Agency, the Otago Regional Council, the Police, taxi companies, tourism operators and nearby businesses.

Under the new arrangement, the centre line has been moved and a 50m long bus stop for cruise shuttle buses only has been introduced on the lower Octagon side. This has led to some traffic signal phase changes and right-hand turn options at either end of the carriageway have been removed.

Mr Avery says the new stop has several advantages. The lower side of the Octagon carriageway has a full canopy for shelter and a larger flat area for passengers to wait.

Under the new arrangement, neither the orange cones that had previously been required on the roadway to separate shuttle parking from traffic, nor the temporary barriers with traffic management staff, will be needed. Some people criticised this traffic management approach, saying it was visually unappealing.

The trial will last for the cruise ship season, which starts on 22 October, and will be reviewed in May next year. During the trial, the DCC would monitor and assess traffic volumes and public feedback.

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