The Northern Busway project is the first dedicated busway infrastructure in New Zealand.
Opening on 3 February 2008, the busway project is a joint collaboration between the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA), NZ Transport Agency, and North Shore and Auckland City Council.
The Northern Busway system consists of a public transport network of five busway stations, linked by a 6.2km two-way road for buses running alongside the Northern Motorway from Constellation Drive to Esmonde Road and then continuing in a 2.5km single bus lane to the Auckland Harbour Bridge and into Auckland City. Buses travelling on the busway will be able to bypass general traffic, especially during the morning and afternoon peak travel time.
The Northern Busway System - More Than A Road For Buses
The Major Benefits Of The Northern Busway System Are:
The Northern Busway is a milestone for Auckland public transport services. One year after the opening and the Busway has proved to be a major achievement with over 7,000 passengers being carried by bus over the harbour bridge to Auckland from the North Shore each week-day between 7am and 9am.
Linking The North Shore To The Auckland Airport
Not only is the busway a benefit for working commuters, but also travellers to and from the Auckland Airport. The busway represents the first public transport service linking the North Shore with Auckland Airport.
Super Shuttles, Shore Shuttle and Northliner services can now also use the busway creating faster, more reliable access to the Auckland Airport from the North Shore.
The initiative, introduced early 2009, takes between 20 to 30 minutes off travel times to the Airport during peak hours.
To find out more about the Northern Busway system, take a look at the pdfs below or visit
Further Information
- If all the people using the busway to travel to the CBD were to use cars, assuming the average car occupancy is 1.2 persons per car, then the number of cars the Busway is taking off the roads is around 5,100 in morning peak. This represents the equivalent of 2 motorway lanes inbound and 2 motorway lanes outbound.
- The Busway cost $300 million to build.
- In the current economic climate, the cost benefits of investing in public transport to assist in stimulating the economy are a highly important, comparatively cost effective consideration, congestion benefits another in a city often bought to gridlock by cars.
- 5,100 cars off the road between the North Shore and Auckland through patronage on the Busway, also represents greater ease of movement for road freight.
- The busway is designed to accommodate up to 250 buses an hour by 2016.
