4 July 2012

HBRC Transport Briefs

‘Hopper’ Here to Stay
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s goBay trial bus service from Napier to Ahuriri and Westshore is to become a permanent service from the beginning of next month.

The ‘Hopper’ service on Route 15 from Napier-Ahuriri-Westshore-Napier was trialed for six months and proved to be extremely popular with locals and visitors.

HBRC Transport Manager, Carol Gilbertson says following public feedback, from the first of August the permanent service will begin with some changes to the timetable and route to allow for an hourly service.

On Your Bike with goBay
Bike racks will soon be installed on 14 of the buses in the goBay fleet, on main routes. The initiative was planned for 2014, however an agreement has been reached betweeny HBRC and the bus operator, Go Bus Ltd to install the racks this year. The racks can carry two bikes at a time. There will be no charge for bikes, but passengers will be responsible for loading and unloading their own bikes.

Carol Gilbertson says the bus bike racks will make public transport a practical travel option for even more people, who will now be able to cycle from the bus stop to their final destination, which may not be on the public transport network.

Parkvale People Power
Following successful submissions by Parkvale residents to HBRC’s Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022, the Route 17 Hastings-Parkvale-Akina-Hastings is to be extended to travel past the new Summerset Retirement Village on Ada Street.

HBRC Transport staff and Go Bus Transport staff will be working closely with Hastings District Council to identify suitable sites for new bus stops on Ada, Kathleen and Louie Streets.

ENDS

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