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New Era for New Plymouth Bus Service
Taranaki Regional Council media release
7 April
2008
For immediate release
New Era for New Plymouth
Bus Service
New Plymouth will have an improved bus service from July under a newly awarded contract.
Tranzit Coachlines will run the service under the contract, which was announced today by the Chairman of the Taranaki Regional Council, David MacLeod.
The contract provides for new early morning and late afternoon commuter services and Mr MacLeod says it represents an exciting new opportunity to get more New Plymouth people on the buses.
“We needed a contract that would let us maintain existing services, hold fares and keep ratepayer cost to a minimum. Our contract with Tranzit not only lets us do this, but gives us budgetary leeway to introduce the new commuter services.
“The new contract also opens the way for further improvements such as the use of new fare-paying technology. A new era is about to dawn for public transport in New Plymouth.”
Mr MacLeod says the contract was awarded after a competitive tendering process that weighed up quality of service as well as cost.
“The Council is unanimous in its view that the contract for new, improved services is a good result for both users and non-users of bus services.”
The contract will run for three years, with the option of extending for a further two.
Mr MacLeod says before any tender prices could be considered, tenderers had to show they could meet specified standards on issues such as vehicle quality, operational facilities and previous experience.
The awarding of the contract comes after a two-year trial of expanded bus services, initiated by the Taranaki Regional Council. Mr MacLeod says a lot has been learned in the exercise and the trial will continue until the end of June. In the meantime, Council staff will complete arrangements with the new contractor and finalise details of the new commuter services.
He says Tranzit Coachlines is a long-established company that is promising a high level of service in New Plymouth, including the use of up to four low-floor buses.
Tranzit Coachlines operates similar urban services in Wanganui and Palmerston North, under contract to Horizons Regional Council, and is already well known in Taranaki as an operator of school bus services.
ENDS
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