MEDIA RELEASE
  
Bus service to stay but public urged to use it

For immediate release: 5 May 2009

A decision on bus services to the Pillans Point area has been reversed after Environment Bay of Plenty listened to ratepayers.
 
But residents are being urged to use the service because it will be reviewed again next year
 
“One of our key goals is to provide good public transport and so we have reversed our decision and will continue to provide a bus service along Pillans Rd,” said Environment Bay of Plenty Transport Committee Chair Andrew von Dadelszen.
 
“That said, I want to encourage residents to make the most of this service because the current route via Pillans Point is our worst performing service by some way.
 
“With other areas frequently requesting bus services, it’s going to be difficult to justify keeping it going if patronage hasn’t improved by the time we review services again in July next year.”
 
Under up-coming changes to Tauranga bus services, due to come into effect at the end of June when new contractor Go Bus Ltd takes over, the new design for Route 62 serving Pillans Point would have travelled from Otumoetai Rd to Grange Rd then on to Chapel St.
 
That route would have left areas of Pillans Point without reasonable access to a bus service
 
The final decision on the route will see buses travel along Otumoetai Rd to Grange Rd, Milton Rd, Goods Rd, Pillans Rd, Maxwells Rd and Chapel St, the same as the current route 3.
 
While the original decision on Route 62 was probably the best way to provide more direct bus services to residents east of the city, Pillans Point residents expressed a strong desire to keep their service.
 
“We’re happy with this outcome for the time being but we have to make sure our transport dollar is being spent as efficiently as possible so I’m urging the Pillans Point community to make use of the service,” Councillor von Dadelszen said.
 
Ends
 

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