11 April 2007

Joint approach gives Waiuku trial bus service

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) said today that a trial local bus service between Waiuku and Pukekohe will begin operating Monday to Saturday from Monday 16 April. The service will be run by Stagecoach and the trial will run until mid-2008.

The trial service was bought about through a partnership approach between ARTA, the Auckland Regional Council (ARC), the Waiuku/Awhitu Community Board and Waiuku residents.

Buses Monday to Friday will also connect with train services leaving Pukekohe to Downtown at 6.42am and trains arriving from Downtown at 6.26pm and 7.17pm.

ARTA's General Manager, Mark Lambert says, "The service provides connections between local destinations, hospitals and shopping centres, to help local residents get around their community more easily, using public transport".

Cr Dianne Glenn, who represents the Franklin-Papakura area on the Auckland Regional Council, says she is very appreciative of the work ARTA has done to support the trial service.

"Ratepaying residents agreed to a different ARC transport rating area to help fund the service. Local ratepayers are willing to pay a few more dollars a year per household to go towards the cost.

"Waiuku is a growing area with increasing transport requirements. Residents are keen to use public transport, so this move by ARTA and the ARC only encourages them further".

Cr Glenn says, "Now it is up to Waiuku residents to make sure the bus service is well patronized to ensure it continues in the future".

Chairman of the Waiuku/Awhitu Community Board Bill Deed says, "It is vital that the service is patronised from both Waiuku and Pukekohe residents to ensure it continues past 2008. We have worked hard together to achieve the best timetable to connect with train and bus services heading north from Pukekohe and I am very excited now that the service is finally starting".

ARTA will assess usage of the service in mid 2008.

Further information on the service can be found on www.maxx.co.nz

ENDS