Are we finally going to get some QTNs?

For quite a while now ARTA have talked about revolutionising the structure of Auckland’s public transport system into a series of Rapid Transit Networks (RTNs), Quality Transit Networks (QTNs) and Local Connector Networks (LCNs). The Regional Public Transport Plan formalised this changing route structure, but so far we really haven’t seen much of this actually roll out. I mean of course we have the RTNs (railway lines and the Northern Busway), but so far there seems to have been little effort into properly creating a Quality Transit Network.

This is what a QTN is supposed to be:

A network of high-frequency, high-quality services, mainly with buses, with bus priority measures operating between key centres and over major corridors.

In a more detailed sense, this is what we are to expect from the Quality Transit Network:

In short, frequent bus services that run in bus lanes.

The extent of the QTN is shown by the green lines in the map below. As you can see, these are generally main arterial routes that either currently have, or potentially will have, high frequency buses running along them: Now I really really like the idea of the QTN. While of course it is the rapid transit network that requires the most investment (existing lines are in red above, planned RTN extensions are dotted) and will form the “backbone” of the network, it’s not unreasonable to think that the QTN might potentially carry more passengers a day than the RTN – because it is more extensive. It also acts as a key linkage to get people to transfer points where they can join the RTN. Which is why it has been so disappointing to see pretty much no progress on improving the Quality Transit Network over the last few years, even though ARTA have been talking about it for quite some time. Well, hopefully it would seem as though we’re finally getting some idea of what services on this QTN might look like.

For a few months now ARTA have been running a customer consultation programme through the website http://www.fromgotowhoa.co.nz. Naturally I have tried to add in my two cents here and there, offering feedback on the design of timetables and so forth. Up until now it’s been pretty boring stuff, but the latest consultation survey is actually really interesting as it hints at what we might expect in the future for services running along the Quality Transit Network – “B Line services”. They are described as follows:

High frequency bus services would operate on major arterial roads to and from the CBD. This service would be available for the same price as the existing bus service. This high frequency bus services would provide:
· Buses running at least every 15 minutes from 7.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday
· A trip to and from the city travelling in a bus priority lane for at least 15% of each corridor
· Real time information for these buses via txt, the MAXX website and real time electronic screens at some high frequency bus stops

I must say 15 minute frequencies Monday-Friday and a cutoff of only 15% of the corridor being bus priority (peak hour only or at all times I wonder?) is pretty unambitious – as many routes would currently offer such a service. But it’s interesting to see that these routes are likely to be marketed separately from other lower-frequency services. Here are some of the possible designs for buses, bus shelters and the scheme itself:

Pictures Temporarily Removed…

Whilst I think the buses are a bit too grey and the whole yellow and black colour scheme is a bit too… well… Wellington, generally I think the idea is fantastic. The whole purpose of the QTN is to marktet a series of “superior” routes that will be faster and more frequent than your regular bus routes. The whole idea, including the name, is based on the Vancouver B-Line bus system (which they’re actually slowly phasing out as they extend their rail system). This system has been fantastically successful in Vancouver, because it has delivered on its promise of a faster and more frequent service. There are extensive bus lanes along most, if not all, B-Line services in Vancouver, and the buses (which are generally long articulated buses adding to its identity) come very frequently indeed – up to every 2-4 minutes on the cross-town 99 B-Line.

And that’s the important thing here – this service will have to deliver on its promise of being superior. It will have to be faster and more frequent than a normal bus service. It will have to live up to the hype. Marketing is easy, the hard part (and the important part) will be improving service levels, extending bus lanes (both in terms of their length and the time they’re operational) and ensuring the buses are reliable. This is certainly potentially a big step forwards though.

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