Residents have their say on “Taxi-bus”

Warkworth residents are being surveyed on a Taxi-bus service to see if this could be a solution to the lack of public transport in the area. The survey has been prepared by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) and Rodney District Council (RDC), in conjunction with Hikurangi Foundation who initiated the idea for such a service.

Hikurangi Foundation’s project manager, Bevan Woodward of Warkworth is impressed with the willingness of ARTA and RDC to investigate the possibility of such a service. Woodward says:

“Traditional bus services working to fixed routes generally don’t work well in rural areas due to the small and dispersed populations, hence our interest in a Taxi-bus service. I’ve recently visited a number of Taxi-bus operators in Europe who are providing cost-effective and convenient door-to-door public transport. We’d like to find out if such a service is viable in the Warkworth region, so we are grateful for ARTA and RDC’s involvement and encourage all residents to take a few minutes to fill in the Taxi-bus survey.”

“We expect that if the Taxi-bus trial goes ahead, it will be as easy as making a phone call or texting to request a ride. Such a service will assist the residents in the Warkworth area who are unable to drive, such as the elderly or teenagers, and also provide an option to tourists who appreciate the convenience of good public transport whilst reducing their carbon footprint.”

The survey is being delivered to 7,000 households in the Warkworth area and is also available online at www.maxx.co.nz/network-developments.html Completed surveys should be mailed using the Freepost address by Friday September 3rd. Everyone who completes a survey goes into the draw to win a $300 New World shopping voucher.

ENDS

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