Waiuku bus trial to start next year

18 December 2006

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) is initiating a trial bus service from Waiuku to Pukekohe to run until mid-2008. The service will start as soon as a provider can be contracted.

The initiative works hand in hand with Waiuku residents who have agreed to a different ARC transport rating area - called Settlement Area A - so ratepayers there will pay a few more dollars a year per household to help cover the cost of the service.

Cr Dianne Glenn, who represents the Franklin-Papakura area on the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) and has led the charge to get a new bus service established, says she is delighted with ARTA’s decision to provide the new service.

“Waiuku is a growing town but in recent years has become poorly serviced by public transport.”

“ARTA has consulted Waiuku residents and there is clearly a need for a more responsive bus service to get people to Pukekohe and back, from where they can connect to the rest of the region by rail or bus.”
“Waiuku residents also recognise that they have to financially support a new bus service, and I commend them for doing so.”

“I encourage Waiuku and Awhitu residents to make the most of the new service,” Cr Glenn says.

“It’s a significant first step to connect the Waiuku and Pukekohe communities, as well as the residents who live along the planned routes.
It’s very important to use this service to prove its worth and take it through to a permanent service.”

Cr Glenn says she would like to thank ARTA staff, the ARC, the Waiuku Community Board and Waiuku residents for helping to get the new service up and running.
Bill Deed, Waiuku/Awhitu Community Board Chairman says:
“The Community Board has been actively involved with the process to establish this bus service for Waiuku. We have hosted the public meetings and have had a part in designing the proposed service. It has been quite a job for Cr Glenn and I to keep the process alive, and I am delighted with the result that this long-awaited service will start. As Cr Glenn says, it will be now up to locals to use the service to prove its need to continue for future years.”

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