HOVS
To maximise the person carrying capacity of the busway in the morning peak travel time, the busway has been designed to allow High Occupancy Vehicles to use the facility.
It is planned to allow access for 350 HOVs per hour between 7am and 9am from Constellation Station to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. HOVs will also be able to enter the single southbound busway lane at Esmonde Interchange and Onewa Interchange.
No other private vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles will be permitted to use the busway.
HOV access will only take place once additional motorway capacity improvements to the Victoria Park Viaduct are completed.
To reduce potential for a negative outcome from any HOV use of the busway, the following general guidelines are recommended for any HOV policy that is adopted for the North Shore:
-
HOV operations must not degrade the level of service for buses using the busway.
-
HOV operations should be limited in scope to preserve the rapid transit image of the busway so as not to damage the potential of the busway to act as a focus for more efficient land use patterns.
-
The HOV program should focus on long distance commuters bound for the south side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, who do not have access to good public transport services and who because they enjoy a major advantage through use of the busway are likely to form carpools.
