About the Eastern Busway

The Eastern Busway is a significant project that is about more than just better transport. It will increase access to jobs and education, connect people to social and community opportunities, attract investment and growth, enable urban development, and help reduce emissions.


Similar to the Northern Expressway on Auckland’s North Shore, the Eastern Busway will create separate lanes for new high-frequency bus services to connect people from Botany, Pakuranga and the surrounding suburbs with the rail network in Panmure. Its efficient services will give nearby communities some great options for cycling, walking or using the bus, and it will be a vital part of the public transport network in Tāmaki Makaurau for decades to come.


Pakuranga to Botany


The Panmure to Pakuranga section of the busway opened in 2021. The next stage from Pakuranga to Botany will complete the project and will:


    • extend the Panmure to Pakuranga section, to form a continuous 7km busway with separate walking and cycling facilities
    • create separate lanes for buses to connect people from Botany, Pakuranga and the surrounding suburbs with the rail network in Panmure
    • provide better transport connections between, within and to the town centres
    • provide transport infrastructure that is safe for everyone
    • safeguard future transport infrastructure required, or in the vicinity of, Botany Town Centre, to support the development of a strategic public transport connection to Auckland Airport.


The project is being designed and consented in full and constructed in stages from Pakuranga towards Botany. As each stage is completed, it will be opened to deliver immediate benefits. 




Who is delivering the Eastern Busway?


AT is working with four companies as the Eastern Busway Alliance to design, consent and build the Pakuranga to Botany section of the busway. Together with our mana whenua partners, specialists in safety, community engagement, design and construction are working together, sharing their skills and knowledge to deliver this large and complex infrastructure project.


Photo of approximately 30 people from the Eastern Busway Alliance project team wearing orange high vis vests walking along a footpath on Reeves Road
Alliance team members walking together during a karakia on Reeves Road, Pakuranga, in September 2022.

Why a Busway?


A busway is where buses have their own lanes away from traffic, giving people high quality transport services that are fast, frequent and reliable. It provides opportunities for the environment and the economy, too.


Opportunities


  • Safer and increased access to schools, community facilities, workplaces and employment opportunities.

  • Gives more East Auckland residents, visitors and commuters a congestion-free run on fast, frequent and reliable bus services
  • In partnership with mana whenua we are able to recognise and enhance the cultural significance of the area and improve the ecology
  • Lowers operating costs for bus services through reduced travel times, creates opportunities for urban development and stimulates investment along the route.


Mana whenua


AT, mana whenua and the Eastern Busway Alliance are partnering to ensure that Māori cultural values and perspectives are integrated in all stages of the project.


We’re looking forward to sharing more about the collaboration as the project develops.


A group of people from the project team with mana whenua representatives wearing orange high vis vests crossing Reeves Road using a pedestrian crossing.
Mana whenua representatives and Eastern Busway Alliance members crossing Reeves Road, Pakuranga, September 2022.


More information on the Eastern Busway


Resource: About the Eastern Busway