Arataki bus hub upgrade

With more than 40,000 bus passengers a month, Arataki is the second busiest bus hub in Tauranga, with many drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians also passing through the area to access schools and Bayfair Shopping Centre. We’ve heard the community’s calls for better shelters and a safer environment. The upgrade will make travelling by bus more user-friendly, improve safety during transit, and provide a friendlier welcome to and departure from Arataki.

Improved streetlights, and new CTTV monitoring will enhance visibility in the area. Enhanced pedestrian crossings, wider footpaths, and a shared path will provide safer access for cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users, skaters, and scooter riders.

Since 2018 we’ve conducted exhaustive and comprehensive options analysis for possible locations, and several rounds of community consultation have been completed. These identified Farm Street as the preferred location for the bus hub. This is supported by Bay of Plenty Regional Council (service provider).

The upgrade will complement other projects in Arataki such as a new signalised crossing for Girven Road, intersection improvements and new raised pedestrian crossings at Oceanbeach Road, Maranui Street, and Girven Road, and safety enhancements on Links Avenue.

To deliver this upgrade safely and efficiently the existing bus shelters and footpaths in the work site on Farm Street will be closed during construction and a temporary pedestrian pathway will be installed. Vehicle access through the site will be one-way only, entering from Taupo Avenue and, access to Bayfair Shopping Centre will remain at all times. This temporary traffic arrangement will allow us to complete the works in less time.

Farm Street bus stops will temporarily shift about 80 metres further north (toward Concord Avenue) during construction. Stops and routes will be clearly signposted, and traffic controllers will be available to help bus patrons during working hours. For more information on Bayhopper bus services visit www.baybus.co.nz.

As part of efforts to alleviate traffic congestion and improve the flow of pedestrian and vehicle movement in the area, Bay of Plenty Regional Council has committed to minimising layovers on surrounding streets and utilising a repurposed bus stop along Girven Road.