Wellington City Council

Bus improvement projects

We’re proposing improvements to strengthen the public transport network and respond to passenger demand — now and into the future.

Making it easier for everyone to move around in our growing city

Connecting the places where people want to go

Reducing our emissions from road transport

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Projects  > Bus improvements

Better bus connections  

Public transport is important to Wellington, with the highest bus patronage per capita for any city in New Zealand. The Harbour Quays and Eastern Bus Corridor projects are designed to make bus journeys more reliable — from the eastern suburbs into the city and through the city centre. Each project plays a different but complementary role in strengthening the overall public transport network, helping ensure it can meet future demand even as travel patterns change. 

Councillors have prioritised both improving the bus service from Karori through the inner city to Miramar, and making buses more reliable and quicker on busy routes, through Wellington City Council's Triennium Plan and Greater Wellington's Bus Priority Action Plan. It's now time for you, and others in the community, to share your thoughts on the proposed changes.

Wellington City Council (WCC) and Metlink (Greater Wellington) are working together.  Metlink operates the bus network, while Wellington City Council manages the roads. The councils are jointly proposing changes to ensure buses run more smoothly, keep up with growing demand and cause less delays for all road users.   

Harbour Quays Bus Priority project

A second city centre bus corridor is proposed along Harbour Quays, linking the Wellington Railway Station with Cambridge Terrace and Courtenay Place. The proposed changes will: 

  • Improve reliability and increase capacity through the city centre
  • Help relieve congestion on the Golden Mile, which is already operating at high bus volumes during peak times
  • Support faster journeys to key destinations such as Queens Wharf, Te Papa, and Wellington Hospital
  • Include peak-hour bus lanes, upgraded stops, safety improvements, and some changes to parking and loading. 

Eastern Bus Corridor Improvements project

Upgrades are planned along the Eastern Bus Corridor to improve safety, accessibility, and reliability. The proposed changes are: 

  • Lengthening bus stops to allow multiple buses at once
  • Changes to intersections and stop locations to improve traffic flow
  • Removing some closely spaced stops to reduce delays
  • Preparing the corridor for future articulated buses once infrastructure upgrades are complete 

Explore the projects

Harbour Quays Bus Priority project

Find out more about proposed changes the Harbour Quays to create a second public transport corridor through the Central City.

Eastern Bus Corridor Improvement project

Get the details on all the proposed changes to bus stops between Miramar and the Central City.

Find out more about the project

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Wellington City Council, as the city’s road controlling authority, and Metlink (Greater Wellington), as the public transport authority, are working together to improve bus infrastructure along the eastern corridor from the central city to Miramar. 

If you have questions about the proposed changes, pop in and chat to the team. Come join us at: 

  • Saturday 23rd May 10.00am–11.30am - Miramar Library, 68 Miramar Avenue, Miramar

  • Tuesday 26th May 11am–1pm - Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (ground floor, near the Manaaki desk), 65 Victoria Street, Wellington

  • Thursday 28th May 3.30pm-5.30pm - Clyde Quay School Hall, 27 Elizabeth Street, Mount Victoria

  • Tuesday 2nd June 5.00pm–7.00pm - Hataitai Community House Community Room, 112 Waipapa Road, Hataitai

  •  Wednesday 3rd June 5.00pm–7.00pm - Miramar & Maupuia Community Centre Hall, 27 Chelsea Street, Miramar

  • Saturday 6th June 11am–1pm - Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (ground floor, near the Manaaki desk), 65 Victoria Street, Wellington