Auckland Transport (AT) is implementing several changes to its services this month including more frequent buses, changes to bus lanes and removing parking.
Most of the changes centre around Karangahape and Newton Road.
AT's service network development manager Pete Moth said more people travel by bus than by any other mode on some road corridors and the changes reflect that.
"With the changes coming to bus services on 12 November, more buses will be travelling on K' Rd at all times of the day," Moth said.
"This means there will be more people travelling on buses along K' Rd outside of peak hours. Currently, bus lane operating hours do not always give reliable journey times through the area. It is important that road space is relocated to the people who need it most, to boost patronage on public transport and to make buses a viable alternative to travelling by car."
From November 12, bus lane times will change on Karangahape Road and there will be no general parking at any time, seven days a week.
Moth said this will allow for more consistent journey times for bus customers, no matter when they are travelling. Loading will be available outside bus lane hours, and parking will be available on side streets.
"AT has seen the positive impact that more bus customers in an area can have on businesses. The more people arriving to an area on bus, the better this is for business," said Graeme Gunthorp - AT's programme director for the city centre.
"There will be more people walking the streets, spending money and enjoying the ambience of café culture on K' Rd," Gunthorp added.
A new bus route for west and northwest Auckland will also be launched on November 12.
The new WX1 Western Express connects Westgate to new bus interchanges at Lincoln and Te Atatū which then continue to the city centre. Buses will run every 10 minutes via the Northwestern Motorway.
There will also be a range of new local routes to connect with motorway services at Westgate and these bus interchanges, AT said.
A new bus lane is also being added on Newtown Road to give buses priority for turning right onto K Road.
The bus shoulder lanes on the Northwestern Motorway are also being extended between Westgate and Newton Road and at motorway interchanges to increase priority for buses.
This will make bus trips quicker and more reliable for the new WX1 services, AT said.
