Extension of bus stop would deplete city amenity: Vandervis

A DUNEDIN city councillor has criticised a decision to spend up to $25,000 extending a bus stop over safety concerns, saying it will deplete centre-city ‘‘amenity’’

A raft of parking changes recommended by the Dunedin City Council’s hearing committee were approved at last Thursday’s council meeting.

One such change involves extending a bus stop in Princes St to prevent queuing buses blocking the adjacent intersection with Dowling St.

The work is to be funded by the Otago Regional Council.

Cr Lee Vandervis said the plan made little sense, given the site’s proximity to double bus stops at the Exchange a block away.

Creating the extension involved removing a kerb build-out, motorcycle parks, a tree and lamppost, and shifting a bench and bins for rubbish and recycling.

Cr Vandervis, a committee member, opposed the changes at the hearing and again at the council meeting, and said the amenities had been installed at ratepayers’ cost.

‘‘To lose that amount of amenity for a bus stop that could be moved only a few metres further up the road at the loss of some carparks, but at least we’d keep the amenity island, to me makes absolutely no sense at all,’’ he said.

Following a hearing earlier this month, an ORC spokeswoman said the work could cost up to $25,000, and would be covered by the regional council.

At the hearing, city council staff said it was not the best time of year to a trial a double bus stop in Princes St nearer Moray Pl, as Cr Vandervis had suggested.

Cr Mandy Mayhem, also a committee member, said she had seen blockages at the Princes-Dowling Sts intersection because buses could not stop to offload passengers.

She said staff had also indicated a stop closer to Moray Pl would cause issues for bus drivers, who would have to navigate a few lanes of traffic when turning towards the bus hub.

‘‘As the city grows and expands, things that we might have done in the ’90s at cost to the ratepayer change with the way our bus services have changed, the way the buses flow to the bus hub.’’

Cr Russell Lund said he shared Cr Vandervis’ concerns about the site.

Cr Doug Hall supported the recommendations and said small, operational changes could ‘‘make a real difference to how people move around the city more safely, more efficiently and with less friction’’.

Other approved changes included introducing a ‘‘no right turn’’ from the eastern end of Strathallan St on to Portsmouth Dr and removing 74 carparks from the area, as part of work on the Harbour Arterial route, a centre-city bypass intended especially for heavy vehicles.

Councillors approved the changes, Cr Vandervis recording his vote against. ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz