Adelaide is very reliant on its bus network for the provision of public transport, especially the eastern and north eastern suburbs. Grenfell Street and Currie Street (From here on referred to simply as "The Street") are the most vital city thoroughfare for the bus network, and is the destination for the majority of passengers. This has lead to severe congestion, both on the road and on the footpaths. The footpaths can become almost impassable on weekday afternoons due to the large crowds waiting for buses, especially on the northern side. Some stops experience such large crowds that their queues overlap and cause even greater congestion.
The Street also functions as a vital link for private road traffic entering the CBD, providing the only access to several key loading docks. A significant portion of traffic is cross town, not stopping in the CBD. This has resulted in Grenfell Street and Currie Street being a major source of delay for buses, leading to longer trips, late buses and poorer utilisation of the buses themselves.
The Street is practically a no-go zone for cyclists. The crowded footpaths are unsuitable and the road is too dangerous thanks to parked cars, heavy traffic and weaving buses.
The following illustrates how busy The Street can be on an average Weekday.
The above counts cross-town services (Bus X continues as route Y) as a single service, rather than two, and excludes Thursday or Friday only services.
Limited access to curb space often leads to queuing.
Traffic can lead to delays for buses. (Note the poor cyclist in the left crossing King William Street who's about to get squashed between two buses )
Bus crowds regularly cause congestion on footpaths in afternoon peak.
My proposed solution is to:
- Close Grenfell Street and Currie Street to regular traffic, creating an inner-city busway.
- Widen the footpaths, especially the northern footpath. Areas of footpath that are not adjacent to bus stops could be used for the expansion of existing outdoor dining areas.
- Construct new, larger bus shelters, preferably longer than an articulated bus and as wide as the widened footpath. Explore options to allow multiple door loading in afternoon peak, such as ticket validation before boarding.
- Create a separated bikeway, protected from traffic. This, and the widened footpath, will narrow the street from six lanes to four.
- Removal of all existing on-street parking, except for the occasional loading zone outside peak hours.
- Access to local properties would need to be maintained, especially for delivery vehicles. Side streets will need to be utilised as thoroughfares and limited entrances and exits provided.
- Possibly allow private vehicles through access after hours (eg 7pm - 7am) to keep a presence in the street
- The existing bus stops are marked (black text), but there's no reason they cannot be moved or new stops created.
- Taxis are allowed to use the street as a thoroughfare, and the existing taxi ranks can be maintained. (I've just noticed that I've made a mistake on the King William St end, the westbound lane should read "BUS LANE," not "BUS ONLY")
- Varying access restrictions (day time vs. night time) can be facilitated by electronic signs and time schedules on signs.
- A new pedestrian crossing is proposed, to service the proposed Rundle Place development.
- The conversion of the Gawler Place intersection to a scramble crossing is proposed. This intersection becomes very busy during the working day as it is used by office workers to access Rundle Mall.
- Access to Imperial Pl, James Pl and the City Cross loading dock: Enter by turning left from King William Street, and exit by turning right onto Wyatt Street.
- Access to the section of Galwer Place between Grenfell Street and Rundle Mall: Enter and exit via Pirie Street.
- Access to U-Park on Grenfell (The Harris Scarfe car park): Enter from Chesser St and exit on Wyatt St. Vehicles exiting the car park are not permitted to continue east towards Pulteney Street.
- Access to the Harris Scarfe (proposed Rundle Place) loading dock, the Adelaide/Regent arcade loading dock and Twin Street: Enter via Chesser St and exit by turning left onto Pultney Street.
- Access to the Conservatory on Hindmarsh car park: Enter via Pirie Street then Hindmarsh Sq West and exit via Hyde St or Wyatt St.
- Access to Coromander Pl: Enter via Pirie St and exit by turning left onto Galwer Pl.
- Access to Register Ln: Enter via Galwer Pl and exit by turning left onto King William Street