Improvement's to Auckland's Bus Routes #4
This post aims to cover improvements to Mission Bay route 781
This time around, I will be writing quite a bit smaller as we are predomidantly focusing on a singular route rather than multiple routes. So which route have I chosen this time? It’s Route 781, which runs from the Auckland Museum in Parnell to Mission Bay, with a short trip beginning and ending at Newmarket in the early and late hours of the service. This service is run half hourly, with additional peak time services to help with Baradene College.
781 currently runs down Maunsell Road, into Parnell Road, into Broadway, into Remuera Road, into Victoria Avenue, into Baradene College stop loop, into Manawa Road, into Orakei Road into Ngapipi Road, into Ngaiwi Street, into Coates Avenue, into Kepa Road, into Kohimarama Road, into Tamaki Drive, into Patterson Ave, Stop D Mission Bay, Patterson Ave to Ronaki Road, into Selwyn Ave, into Kohimarama Road and then reverse of above.
There are three big changes I would suggest for the 781 route. First off, improve frequency to every 15 minutes 7am - 7pm (78), secondly, move the route to run the entirety of Victoria Avenue, then into Shore Road, then onto Orakei Road, and finally, extend the 781 (78) to Britomart via Domain Drive and Symonds Street.
My first change is to improve the all day frequency to 15 minutes, making it route 78, which would allow improved access between Britomart, Auckland Muesum, Newmarket, Remuera Shops, Victoria Ave/Shore Road Schools, Orakei Station, Eastridge and Mission Bay.
To make the change viable, in my opinion, is to move services to run along Victoria Avenue and Shore Road serving new stops at the Shore Road roundabout, new stops on Shore Road and a new stop opposite Baradene College on Victoria Avenue. And as stated in the new route, the service would start at Britomart, run along Symonds Street and Domain Drive to Auckland Muesum then continue as such to Newmarket. Here is a Google Map to help visualise the improvements: 781 Improvements Route Map.
Here are three scenarios as examples to how the route could effectively improve access for communities around Auckland.
First scenario: Family of five from the North Shore take a day trip to Auckland Museum. This family live near the Northern Busway, in Campbells Bay, and they Catch the 907 to Sunnynook Station then connect to the Northern Express 1 to Britomart, arrive and walk to Fort Street bus stop, hop on the 78 and arrive at Auckland Museum not too long later. After visiting the Museum for a couple hours, they head out to Orakei to check out the local shops and have an afternoon break. They catch the train back to Britomart and return home on the Northern Express 1.
Their day trip could’ve easily been harder to do with the infrequency to Auckland Museum.
Second scenario: A teacher who works at Baradene College currently resides in the Three Kings area. They would normally drive their car to work but has broken down and is at the mechanic for serveral days. This person starts their journey at Rahiri Road along Mt Eden Road, where they travel on the frequent 27 to Symonds Street near Waterloo Quadrant. Because of the improved pedestrian access at the Waterloo Quadrant stops, they can easily cross over to the opposite bus stop and get on the 78 to Victoria Avenue.
Because of how fast the bus got them to Baradene College, the teacher continued to use the route even after their car returned from the mechanic. This journey would’ve been made harder if the 78 did not have a connection on Symonds Street, and would’ve added time as they would have to change buses upto four times in a journey.
Third scenario: Two friends from two sides of the region (Western Suburbs & Eastridge) who met while studying at university, have planned to meet each other at Waiata Reserve for a picnic hangout, with the changes to buses in the Western Suburbs, Freind A catches the frequent 10R to Downtown where they change to the 78 and get off the Waiata Avenue stop. Freind B who lives in Eastridge is also easily able to travel to Waita Reserve on the 78. The each comment about how enjoyable catching the bus to get around is.
They end up going back to Freind B’s house in Eastridge, and because of the frequent service, they can just turn up and go. This interconnects with the suggested improvements to Western Suburbs (Westmere & Grey Lynn), and enabled these two friends to easily meet up in a spot that is served by frequent buses.
With the improvements to 781 it will offer additional options for people travelling between Orakei and the City Centre, and to make other trips without needing to travel into the City.
Please share your thoughts, changes and objections below!