TRANSPORT TERMINAL

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20951, 2 November 1939, Page 9

TRANSPORT TERMINAL

HAMILTON PROPOSAL SITE IN GARDEN PLACE BOROUGH ENGINEER’S REPORT In response to a recent request of the council the borough engineer, Mr R. Worley, tabled a report at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last night, dealing with the proposal to establish a central motor transport terminal in the Garden Place area. Before making any investigations, the engineer studied the operations Auckland transport terminal on The site of the old railway station. In the report the engineer described the Auckland terminal as a highly successful undertaking, which was worth a visit to see the excellent facilities and the smooth manner in which the whole of the suburban bus and service car business was handled. The Auckland terminal handled several times more traffic than would be required to be handled in Hamilton, but, nevertheless, it would be necessary for Hamilton to provide practically similar facilities on a smaller scale. Facilities For Hamilton The report set out the necessary facilities for Hamilton as follows: Ticket and general offices measuring 25 feet by 18 feet, one office staff to handle the business of all companies operating; luggage and parcels office measuring 25 feet by seven feet six inches; a well-appointed waiting lounge measuring 25 feet by 18 feet; a women’s toilet room measuring 12 feet by seven feet six inches; a platform with an overhung verandah and seats; a station clock; a bookstall and coffee bar; and a public telephone. It was presumed that it would not be necessary to provide men’s conveniences if the proposal to establish these nearby in the Garden Place area was approved. The Auckland terminal also provided for a room for waiting drivers and several rented shops in the building, but it was not considered that these facilities were necessary in Hamilton. “The Auckland terminal is an island, and there is no doubt that this makes for easy operation,” said Mr Worley. “Numerous other designs have been tried out, such as 45 degree and 90 degree docking, but it is considered that the saving space would be more than offset by the disadvantage of every vehicle having either to back in or out. Ideally Situated “The central island site in Garden Place originally suggested for the town hall appears to be ideally situated for the establishment of a motor transport terminal, if this area can be made available for this purpose. It is the site best suited to the needs of the transport using it and to the requirements of the people patronising it, and sketch plans have been prepared adopting this site. Once adopted, I think it would be difficult for the council to shift from here and use this site for any other purpose. If this site is not available then the only alternative appears to be on the block immediately to the south of the island site where the clay has not yet been removed. There is sufficient land here to enable an island site to be created, but it would not be nearly so prominent nor quite so central. The value of the land would be a little less but the cost of the work would be a little greater, the net expenditure being the same.

“The central island site has the added advantage that there are odd strips of land on each side of the station, at the back and on the two front comers where grass and trees could with advantage be established. There will be no wires to necessitate the restriction of growth and therefore if the right type of trees is chosen the station and its surroundings will quickly assume highly desirable aesthetic qualities.” Congestion of Cars “The congestion and piling up of service cars and country buses in Victoria Street had long indicated that some such facility as a central transport terminal was badly needed. There was, furthermore, every indication that the country bus traffic would increase, a movement that would be intensified by any upward movement in the price of petrol. The terminal as designed would adequately provide for more than double the traffic of the present day, and would cater adequately for such rush periods as might be experienced at Winter Show time, football matches, etc. There was, however, very little relative saving in expenditure by reducing its capacity and this was not advised without very serious consideration. “The proposed terminal occupies only 215 feet of the total depth of 300 feet between Alexandra Street and Anglesea Street, and it is suggested that the balance be set aside at present for all-day parking sites, a charge of 6d a vehicle being made. Should the developments of the future demand an enlarged station it can therefore be extended in this direction,” continued the report. “Apart from the site, the estimated costs of construction are as follows: —Main building, £2,500; clock, furniture, etc., £500; platform and seats, £210; overhung vehandah , £2100; road paving, £587; trees and grass plots, £240; making a total of £6137. By reducing the capacity to one half the cost would be reduced by £1000.” Daily Use of Terminal “The immediate daily use which will be made of the terminal, compiled from detailed information from j all the companies operating, is as ! iollows: Service cars passing through, 18; country buses, arriving, 30; country buses, leaving, 30. The charges which would require to be levied upon the various companies would depend upon the council’s j policy of whether the revenue should be adjusted to balance the operating charges only, or whether it should also meet some part of the site charges. In Auckland the ground rent amounts to £2072 and the total revenue falls short of the total expenditure by £1450, which is made up from the general account.” In Hamilton it might be possible to use the terminal office also as the taxi headquarters, stated the report. This and other factors would therefore need to be fully investigated be-

i fore it was possible to indicate the i ultimate financial result. One thing j appeared certain, that the installaI tion of such transport facilities as ! were proposed would no doubt be to j the great benefit of both town and country and deserved the serious consideration of the council. The report was received, and the engineer was thanked for preparing it