Local residents can have their say on the design of the next, and final, stage of the Eastern Busway public transport project.
Auckland Transport (AT) owner interface manager Tom Willetts says public consultation on the design of stage four, from Ti Rakau Drive to Botany Town Centre, is now open.
“We’re encouraging the community to look at the design proposals, share their views using our online survey, and meet the project team at an informal pop-in session during August.
“We look forward to understanding the community’s thoughts on our proposals and considering these in our detailed design.”
The proposals include a link route, called EB4L, which is the preferred, proposed design the project team is submitting consents for this month. It will be built when funding is approved.
The second proposal is an interim bus route, EB4i, which is an interim route that will be constructed by 2027 and will be in use until the link route is funded and built.
AT says EB4L, the busway’s final stage, begins on Ti Rakau Drive, continues along the northern edge of Guys Reserve and connects to Te Irirangi Drive, where the future Botany Station will be located.
“EB4L includes a two-lane road for buses only, which will bypass the Ti Rakau Drive and Te Irirangi Drive intersection, enabling reliable travel times.
“A separate cycleway and footpath is proposed along the western edge of the reserve and would connect to the wider Eastern Busway cycling and walking network.
“Planning is in progress to determine the exact location of the Botany Station and is likely to be close to the town centre.
“It will be an interchange for the Eastern Busway, local school bus services, and future Airport to Botany rapid bus services.”
AT is applying for funding through the Regional Land Transport Plan three-year review and will continue through the consenting process.
“Consent is being sought for EB4L because it’s the preferred design to be delivered when funding is available.”
The agency has endorsed funding for the design and construction of the interim bus route, EB4i, which will connect the busway in Burswood to Ti Rakau Drive.
“This route will be used until funding is confirmed to build EB4L and the Botany Station,” it says.
“EB4i will connect from the east side of the Howick and Eastern bus depot to Ti Rakau Drive.
“There will be traffic lights near Guys Reserve where buses travelling towards Botany will leave the busway.
“They’ll continue in regular traffic lanes along Ti Rakau Drive and Te Irirangi Drive to Botany Town Centre bus shelters, which will be upgraded.
“Buses travelling from Botany towards Pakuranga will move onto the busway at the traffic lights near Guys Reserve.”
AT says the interim bus route would be designed and built as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible to maximise benefits.
It would be replaced by EB4L and Botany Station when funding is available.
Two pop-in sessions giving people the chance to have their say on the busway’s final stage are being held in east Auckland.
The first is from 3pm-7pm on August 23 at St Columba Presbyterian Church, 480 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany.
The second is at the same location from 10am-1pm on August 26.
People can also share their view online at www.easternbusway.nz/your-views/stage4.
