Constellation
Busway Station
General information
Location62 Parkway Drive, Rosedale,
New Zealand
Coordinates36°45′06″S 174°43′42″E / 36.7518°S 174.7282°E / -36.7518; 174.7282
Owned byAuckland Transport
Platforms2 (+ 1 under construction)
Bus routesBusway: NX1, NX2, 866, Frequent: 83, Connector: 843, 871, 878, 95C, 120, 861, Local: 883, 884, 885, 889, 901, 906, 907
Bus stands6
Construction
Platform levels1
ParkingPark and ride
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zoneUpper North Shore/Lower North Shore (Zone overlap)
History
OpenedNovember 2005
Rebuilt2020 – 2021 (Planned Completion)

Constellation busway station is a bus station on Auckland's Northern Busway in New Zealand. It is located near Constellation Drive in the light industrial and business area of Rosedale.[1] It has shelters, electronic real-time information on each platform, and park and ride parking.[2]

The next station southbound is Sunnynook busway station. The next northbound is Albany busway station.

Buses travelling via Constellation Station include double-decker buses serving the Northern Express NX1 and NX2 routes.[3]

History

Construction of Constellation Park and Ride station began in March 2003 as part of the Northern Busway project. The station successfully opened in November 2005.[4][5] HEB was the construction contractor for the station.[6]

Capacity issues

Following the implementation of the new bus network on 30 September 2018 there were significant issues with bus traffic through the station. On the evening of 1 October there were, reportedly, more than thirteen buses backed up while trying to enter the station. Commuters reported spending as long as twenty minutes waiting while stuck in gridlock.[7][8] The new network had apparently resulted in three buses arriving every minute during the afternoon peak. Auckland Transport resolved this issue by suspending 37 of 180 runs on the NX1 route, as well as re-organising buses in the layover area to free up space, and implementing temporary traffic management to direct bus drivers to the correct stop.[9][10]

North Shore Councillor, Chris Darby, said that the issues appeared to have been caused by new drivers not being familiar with the correct platforms to stop at, as well as an imposter vehicle on the bus way. He said that the new network had seen a 44 percent increase in bus services and "there was always going to be a risk of hiccups."[11]

In the longer term, AT have responded by diverting some services to different platforms during the afternoon peak.[11][12]

Structure and facilities

At opening, the station covered an area of 25,000m2 with two points of entry at Sunset Road and Parkway Drive. The Park and Ride Facility had 370 car parks.[4]

The station previously had lockers for bicycle storage.[13] These were upgraded to bicycle parking facilities with shelters.[14]

Services

As of 30 September 2018, the following bus routes serve Constellation station: NX1, NX2, 866, 83, 843, 871, 878, 883, 884, 885, 889, 95C, 120, 861, 901, 906, 907.[15]

Some Stop D services move stops between 3pm and 8pm.[12]

General hours

Stop Route Destinations
A NX1 Northern Busway Stations, Britomart
NX2 Northern Busway Stations, Wellesley Street, City Universities
83 Sunnynook Station, Smales Farm Station, Takapuna
866 (Monday to Friday only) Northern Busway Stations, Ponsonby Road, Karangahape Road, Auckland City Hospital, Newmarket
C 83 Mairangi Bay, Browns Bay
871 Forrest Hill Road
878 East Coast Road, Weatherly Road, Browns Bay
883 Schnapper Rock
884 – Anticlockwise (Monday to Friday Only) Apollo Drive, Triton Drive, Rosedale Road, North Harbour Industrial Estate loop
884 – Clockwise (Monday to Friday Only) William Pickering Drive, Rosedale Road, North Harbour Industrial Estate loop
889 Apollo Drive, Hugh Green Drive
D 866 Albany Station
NX1 Albany Station, Hibiscus Coast Station
NX2 Albany Station
861 Bush Road, Massey University, Glamorgan Drive, Torbay, Long Bay
901 Unsworth Drive, Wairau Road
906 Link Drive, Glenfield, Windy Ridge, Archers Road
907 Target Road, Sunnynook Station, Campbells Bay
E 95C Glenfield Road
120 Greenhithe, Westgate, Henderson
843 Sunnynook, Milford, Takapuna
F Drop off only

Stop changes between 3pm and 8pm

Stop Route Destinations
B 861 Bush Road, Massey University, Glamorgan Drive, Torbay, Long Bay
901 Unsworth Drive, Wairau Road
906 Link Drive, Glenfield, Windy Ridge, Archers Road
907 Target Road, Sunnynook Station, Campbells Bay
C NX1 Albany Station, Hibiscus Coast Station
NX2 Albany Station

Upgrades

The current end of the busway as seen facing north from the existing southbound platform. This is where the busway extension will start.
Facing south into the existing busway from the existing southbound platform.

Constellation station is currently undergoing upgrades to accommodate the extension of the Northern Busway as part of the Northern Corridor Improvements. The project is estimated to cost $15 million. It includes a new northbound platform for buses heading north onto the extended busway. It also includes a pedestrian bridge over the busway to connect the new northbound platform to the existing southbound platform, similar to the layout at Smales Farm Station.[16] The 28 metre long transparent glass pedestrian bridge was lifted into place over Labour Weekend of 2020. Additional improvements include new toilets, lifts, driver facilities, and a kiosk area.[17]

Incidents

On 22 April 2021, there was a two-bus collision at the station after a NX2 service pulled out into the path of another bus.[18]

Future

There have been proposals for apartments to be built above the parking area.[19]

To deal with park and ride congestion, there have been proposals for the implementation of fees for parking.[20][21]

References

  1. ↑ Northern Busway Map
  2. ↑ "SH1 Northern Busway". NZ Transport Agency.
  3. ↑ "More Double Deckers on Auckland Roads". Auckland Transport. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Northern Busway". 7 December 2006. Archived from the original on 7 December 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "New Zealand's first Park & Ride bus stations open Sunday 04/10/05". 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Northern Busway". 6 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Bus route changes cause commuter chaos on Auckland's North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "37 buses removed after gridlock at stations on Auckland's North Shore". Newshub. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Auckland Transport reveals bus changes to improve operations at Constellation Station". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Auckland Transport cancels express buses in response to commuter 'chaos'". Stuff. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Auckland Transport promises smooth ride home tonight for North Shore bus commuters". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  12. 1 2 "north-station-plans-a1-constellation-stop-a_new.pdf" (PDF). 2 October 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Vandalised bike lockers to be decommissioned at Auckland's Akoranga bus station". Stuff. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  14. ↑ Transport, Auckland. "More bike parking across Auckland's bus and train stations". Auckland Transport. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "North Auckland Network Map" (PDF). Auckland Transport. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "Major upgrade of Constellation Bus Station begins | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "New bridge at Constellation Bus Station this Labour Weekend | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "Auckland Transport apologises for 'terrible' bus driver after crash". Stuff. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  19. ↑ "Park and Rides with apartments above move closer in Auckland". Stuff. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  20. ↑ "Auckland Council proposes new fees for park and ride". Stuff. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  21. ↑ "Auckland park and rides: The $1 billion deal". Stuff. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
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