Improving the efficiency of Christchurch's bus network

Proposed changes to the Christchurch Metro Public Transport Network will provide a service that better reflects the city’s public transport need and is financially viable.

Rex Williams, Environment Canterbury Commissioner, says the changes which Environment Canterbury has been working on for the last few years are the biggest restructuring of the network since the 1990s.

“They will streamline the network by having high frequency services on key bus corridors and providing better connections to the places people want to go. They will also relieve bus congestion in the CBD, increase efficiency and will help make the network more financially viable.

“We carefully analysed the submissions to our public consultation and have incorporated some changes reflecting these into the revised plan,’’ he says.

The new hub and spoke network design recognises that, while the central city will still retain its position as the most important centre or hub in Christchurch, other hubs have also grown in importance and people now want to be able to travel to them both for work, shopping and leisure activities.

At these hubs, passengers will also be able to connect with high frequency services that run to the central city and to routes running to other hubs across the city. The hubs are usually located at a suburban mall, and provide the facilities such as shops, banks, libraries, medical centres and Council Service Centre.

“Post-quake patronage statistics certainly reflect the need to access suburban hubs,’’ says Mr Williams. “While the overall use of the Metro Network had dropped, the number of people travelling to places such as Riccarton and Papanui/Northlands still remains strong and patronage is growing again.’’

“The majority of passengers will not be affected by the changes as a large part of the network coverage is unchanged. And while some passengers may have to change buses, in most cases, services will be timed so any wait will be kept to a minimum,’’ says Mr Williams.

Another key feature of the model is the introduction of a single high-frequency service along key routes which will reduce the number of buses along the route, reduce bus congestion and get people to their destination faster.

“Instead of a high number of half empty buses travelling the same route, we will now have a new high-frequency service that links major destinations along the north/south corridor from Rangiora to Cashmere. Community routes will connect with this service at key suburban hubs and there will be connections to the central city.’

“What we are doing is making more efficient use of the buses we to avoid duplication.’’
The new network structure will initially be rolled out in the north and the south of Christchurch City in late 2012 and will be introduced across the rest of the network in the coming years.