Bus Exchange

Christchurch people can be rightly proud of their Bus Exchange and public transport system. (Cities like Auckland are now paying the price for not maintaining a functional public transport system that people want to use).

Much of the criticism leveled at our Bus Exchange is due to it being a victim of its own success. Improvements to the city’s public transport system, including the building of the current bus exchange, increased bus frequencies, new routes, the introduction of smart card ticketing and real time information, have led to growth of more than 70% in bus patronage between 2000 and 2005 (more than anyone involved had hoped for in this short timeframe).

This means the bus exchange, which opened in November 2000, is close to overload.

Update: Currently council staff are working on either an expansion or a new site for the bus exchange, which will reach capacity by 2008. Council hope to announce a new site in early 2007.

The site decision impacts on the possible two-waying of Lichfield Street, councillors have agreed to hold off on this decision until a decision on the bus exchange has been made.