29 Jul 2024

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The community is being asked for their preference on how Cranford Street’s peak-hour lanes should be used.

Christchurch City Council is proposing three options for the use of lanes which run on either side of Cranford Street between Berwick Street and Innes Road during peak times.

The choices include bus lanes which would maintain priority for buses, clearways for all traffic, or T2 lanes which would give priority to vehicles with more than one person. The southbound lane currently operates from 7–9am, and the northbound lane operates from 4–6pm.

“We’ve been running peak-hour bus lanes through the area since 2021 as a way of managing the increased traffic from the Christchurch Northern Corridor, but now it’s time for the Council to make a final decision on how these lanes will be used,” Head of Transport Lynette Ellis said. 

“Each option has advantages and disadvantages around efficiency, safety and travel choice. However, they will all keep traffic flowing on Cranford Street and minimise the impact on neighbouring side streets.”

Ms Ellis said the Council considered previous feedback from residents, commuters, businesses, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board and St Albans Residents’ Association when developing the options.

“We are also aware of safety concerns in the area – particularly at the signalised pedestrian crossing by English Park and at the intersection of Westminster and Cranford streets, so we have conducted a safety audit to help inform our planning,” Ms Ellis said. 

“This led to the development of a peak-hour northbound clearway across all options for the short section between Berwick Street and Westminster Street. We’ve also proposed improvements for the English Park signalised crossing and the Cranford Street intersections at Westminster Street and Innes Road. 

“Now we want to hear from everyone who regularly uses Cranford Street during peak times – residents in the area, commuters, bus users, school students, businesses and any other individuals or organisations,” she said.

“All feedback will be taken into consideration by our elected members before they make their final decision later in the year.”

Find more information on each option and tell us what you think by 26 August 2024.