Main Highway - Digital Bus Lane Sign Trial

About the project

People across Auckland have told us the importance of reliable bus services. In response, Auckland Transport has been looking at smart, innovative, and cost-effective ways to make bus journeys in Tāmaki Makaurau better for everyone.

Starting in May 2024, we’ll be installing digital bus lane signs on Main Highway in Ellerslie as the first phase of our trial of a new type of dynamic bus lane technology in Auckland.

What is changing

Auckland is growing, and bus lanes are just one of the ways we help keep Auckland moving. They speed up bus travel times during busy peak hours, and transport thousands of people between their homes, schools, and workplaces each day – many more per hour than cars can carry. They’re working well, but sometimes buses get stuck in traffic, which can cause widespread delays across the whole network.

In May, Auckland Transport will be trialling digital bus lane signs on Main Highway.

Instead of showing fixed bus lane hours on the sign, the digital sign will be simplified to show 'Bus Lane' when the bus lane is active, and "Bus Lane Not In Use' outside of bus lane hours. It will be much easier for drivers to read and know when the bus lane is active.

Here’s what the new signs will look like:

Current Sign	New Digital Sign
	When the bus lane is active, the sign will look like this:
	When the bus lane is not in use, the sign will look like this:

Why we are making the change

The Main Highway bus lane is currently active from 7am to 10am, Monday to Friday, but we know that buses get stuck in traffic outside of these hours, causing significant delays and frustration for passengers.

As well as making the signs easier to read, in future, we’ll be able to trial activating the bus lane via these signs based on real-time congestion. For example, if traffic congestion is picking up before 7am, the signs can be activated earlier. They can also be activated to help respond to unexpected traffic incidents, and deactivated if traffic decreases before standard bus lane hours end.

This is known as a dynamic bus lane.

This type of dynamic bus lane would ensure that buses are not impacted by congestion outside existing bus lane operating hours and can better adhere to their timetables but are only used when needed. This would result in less delays, and more consistent travel times for passengers, whilst balancing the impact on motorists by allowing them to use the lane when it isn’t needed by buses.

As a part of our plan to improve traffic flow and bus reliability, Auckland Transport has been looking into different ways to make better use of our existing road space through dynamic lanes. You may be familiar with the dynamic lanes on Redoubt Road in Manukau and Whangaparaoa Road, or seen our proposal for a different type of dynamic bus lane on Great North Road.

Dynamic solutions are effective, cost-effective, and less disruptive than widening the road.

Trial details

We'll be trialling the new technology behind digital signs and dynamic bus lanes in three phases. During the trial, we'll be:

• Checking in to make sure the signs are working well
• Monitoring how well people understand the new digital signs
• Capturing traffic congestion data on Main Highway

After Phase 1 of the trial ends, we will evaluate how and when traffic congestion and bus reliability could be improved by activating and deactivating bus lanes. We will be in contact with local residents to advise of the outcome of the first phase of the trial and any changes to bus lane hours before Phase 2 begins.

Questions or concerns

If you have any questions, concerns, or observations about these new signs, please email us at ATEngagement@at.govt.nz

We'll update this page with the most up to date information about this project.