What is the benefit of carpooling/ride sharing and having a managed lane?
The benefits of using a T2 lane are widespread – they provide an excellent option for getting where you're going a bit faster and help reduce the environmental impact of too many cars on the road.
With more people in one vehicle, and better public transport, we should all notice less traffic on the road at busy times in the morning. That will mean the whole motorway will work better.
If you carpool or drive in with a member of your family or someone you know, the good news is you can use aT2 lane. This means you’ll beat congestion, saving yourself time, and potentially money (if you take turns).
It goes without saying that if you’re a passenger, you also get to enjoy the view. Or you could finish your homework, or get a few emails done before getting to work.
Why are T2 lanes included on the CNC?
When we were widening the Waimakariri bridge as part of construction of the CNC, we had a unique opportunity to future-proof the network and provide more choices by introducing a southbound lane that could operate as a T2 lane during morning peak.
The lanes mean people who are travelling together in the same vehicle, or using public transport, won’t get caught up in morning congestion while heading into the city.
It’s a great way to encourage people to change how they travel. It gives people transport choices so they can save money, get into the city faster, and have less of an impact on the environment. If more people share vehicles, take buses or ride bikes, the fewer cars will be on the road.
Ultimately, that’s great news for everyone.
What is a T2 lane?
A T2 lane is a restricted traffic lane reserved 24/7 or during peak times for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers. This includes family members of all ages, friends or colleagues travelling together, carpools, vanpools, buses and taxis.
These lanes are also known as a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, a priority lane, a 2+ lane or a transit lane.
They are designed to encourage more people into fewer vehicles, including public transport. This in turn helps prevent people getting stuck in traffic – while reducing the impact on our environment.
Who can use a T2 Lane?
You can use the T2 lanes if you have one or more passengers. You need to have two or more people in your vehicle, including the driver.
Buses can also use T2 lanes. Motorcycles are also allowed in this lane with or without a passenger.
Children and babies count as passengers, and the cameras used to monitor the T2 lanes are both front and side facing and angled to see into the front and backseats. Pregnant people count as one person only. Pets, although part of the family, don’t count as passengers.
Where are the T2 lane on the CNC?
There are two Carpool/T2 lanes, one on SH1 and one on the new CNC motorway (SH74).
The SH1 Carpool/T2 lane starts at the intersection of Main North Road and Tram Road. This T2 Lane is in the left-hand lane and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This lane is a carpool/T2 lane and a freight lane, so both vehicles with at least one passenger and freight vehicles can use this lane. This lane ends midway over the Waimakariri bridge to allow for traffic changing lanes and exiting at the Chaney’s off-ramp.
The second stretch of carpool/T2 lane – is on the CNC motorway. From just before the Main North Road bridge, the right-hand lane is a carpool lane from 6am to 9am on weekday mornings and is only for vehicles carrying at least one passenger. Freight vehicles cannot use this lane between 6am and 9am. Outside of peak morning hours, any vehicle may use this lane. The carpool lane ends just before the Cranford Street roundabout.
Why are you trying to get more people into less vehicles, why not get people onto bicycles, or onto buses?
The carpool lane is just one part of a wider transport improvement package which will give people more choices for getting into and out of the city.
The new CNC motorway has also allowed us, together with ECAN and Waimakariri District Council, to provide a direct bus service, park and ride facilities and a new cycleway across the Waimakariri River connecting to a shared use path along the length of the new motorway with connections to at each end to North Canterbury and central city.
Are there cameras on the new CNC motorway?
There are 3 different cameras systems on the new CNC Motorway:
Operational CCTV System
The CCTV cameras along the CNC Motorway give almost 100% visual coverage of this new road. This information is used to help crews on the ground and in the Transport Operations Centres help manage traffic during congestion or traffic incidents. The cameras also play a role in the management of the T2 lane.
T2 Lane Cameras
These cameras are used to monitor the T2 lanes and are close enough to the ground to be able to see inside vehicles. At present the cameras on the CNC are only used for monitoring. To move to enforcement, we need more advanced cameras.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras
These cameras 'read' the number plates of vehicles at different points along the CNC corridor. This information is used to calculate travel times along the road, and this is then displayed on the journey time signs. Number plates are encoded within the cameras so individual vehicles number plates cannot be retrieved.
The congestion is not too bad on the CNC. Why have a T2 lane?
The implementation of the T2 lanes is a proactive measure to prevent worsening traffic congestion in the future. By introducing carpool lanes on the CNC, we are effectively future-proofing the infrastructure. Although travel to and from the north isn't heavily congested at present, we are encouraging people to adapt to the T2 lanes and consider altering their travel habits. Establishing the T2 lanes from the outset benefits the community by promoting these changes early. Furthermore, by having the T2 lanes from the beginning, they are less likely to be perceived as taking away existing lanes, which would have been the case if they were added later once people were accustomed to having two regular traffic lanes.
Moreover, widening the Waimakariri Bridge and incorporating the T2 lane features during the CNC motorway construction was a wise decision. Retrofitting these features would have been far more costly if done later.
As traffic volumes increase, we can adjust the T2 lanes' operations to address rising congestion. While we are not currently using cameras to enforce the T2 lanes, it remains possible to receive a ticket for violations on the CNC T2 lane. For now, we are closely monitoring the operation of the T2 lane on the CNC motorway.
Why should I carpool/share a ride?
Sharing a ride either on a bus or carpooling is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than driving alone. You can cut your fuel and parking costs and at the same time reduce congestion and harmful emissions.
Why is there no northbound T2 lane on the CNC?
The afternoon and evening (northbound) traffic is more dispersed and spread over several hours. Evidence shows the problem is southbound during morning peak. By encouraging more people into fewer vehicles in the morning, it means there are fewer vehicles to return northbound in the afternoon.
Were you always going to include a Carpool/T2 lane, was it in the original plans?
The Carpool/T2 lane was not part of the CNC project at the start of the construction in late 2016. A corridor study from 2016 had, however, already put forward the idea of a Carpool/T2 lane to manage ongoing traffic growth.
The Canterbury Regional Transport Committee supported this idea in September 2017 as a variation to the Regional Land Transport Plan.
The CNC Alliance, supported by the Greater Christchurch Partnership, agreed to include a third southbound lane and a clip-on cycleway into the widening of the Waimakariri Bridge work in 2017. The CNC already had staff and equipment on site for the northbound widening so including the southbound widening made sense. Doing the work as part of the CNC project has been more cost effective, minimising impacts on the river and minimising disruption to users.
In 2018, NZTA continued to investigate the operations of a southbound T2 lane and this led into design, further travel demand measures and construction funding.
Are the T2 lanes being enforced?
We are not enforcing the T2 lanes with camera technology at this stage. The next steps for the CNC T2 lanes include refreshing our research on the number of people using the T2 lanes correctly and incorrectly, as well as their experiences with the lane itself. When the time comes and we are ready to make changes to the management of the CNC, we will inform the public with an update on how the T2 lanes work and provide a heads-up on enforcement to avoid any surprises.
Cameras will be used to enforce the T2 lanes, and drivers can be fined $150 for using the T2 lane incorrectly.
How much is the fine?
The fine is the same as illegally using a bus only lane. $150
Can I use the T2 lane to pass slower drivers in the ‘normal’ lane?
No, if you are a single occupant/solo driver you cannot use the T2 to pass slower drivers in your lane. An active T2 lane can only be used by drivers with at least one passenger in their vehicle.
Will you open up the lane in case of emergencies? Will I be fined if I use it during an emergency/to get to the road shoulder?
In an emergency, the emergency services and the traffic control centre will direct all traffic around the site as they see fit.
The traffic control centre can turn off the electronic T2 signage on the motorway if need be. Large screens over the motorway can be used to inform drivers of issues ahead.
Can Uber drivers use the Carpool/T2 lanes?
When they have one or more passengers, any taxi service can use the Carpool/T2 lane.
Will direct buses use the Carpool/T2 lanes?
The direct bus will use the quickest route into CHC. On any given day this is most likely to be the Carpool/T2 lane.
