MEDIA RELEASE
April 4, 2013

Timaru bus routes take a new turn

Timaru will soon get an orbital bus service after Environment Canterbury commissioners approved changes to the city’s bus routes at today’s council meeting.

Following two rounds of public consultation the proposed new routes were developed and revised, with three options presented to council for consideration. All three options proposed changes that could provide the necessary improvements to patronage and commercial viability for the Metro bus services in Timaru.

“Option two was the recommended choice as this will provide the maximum possible service while staying within the current budget,” says David Stenhouse, Environment Canterbury’s Passenger Services Manager. “It does mean, however, that there will be some reduction to current services; mainly to the Saturday buses due to sustained low passenger numbers on current routes.

“People will still be able to use public transport to visit key weekend attractions such as CBay Aquatic Centre and Aorangi Stadium. The new orbital service will be the only service to run on Saturdays and includes these stops on its route.”

The design of the new route aims to provide more direct routes to and from the city centre as well as giving better access to key attractions around the city. Connectivity between services will also be improved with a number of transfer locations rather than just in the city centre.

“Our aim was to take on-board the suggestions from the public and develop a service in collaboration with the Timaru Public Transport Advisory Group. We want to provide new links between destinations while still retaining public transport access to and from areas where it is well established,” explains Mr Stenhouse

As well as the North, South, West and orbital services, the current schools service will also have a few changes made to it.

“The adjustment to the Metro schools service will provide connections between the suburbs and schools, complementing the new urban routes. These changes will be made with the involvement of the schools concerned and the service provider.”

This is the first major change to Timaru’s bus routes since Environment Canterbury took over responsibility for the services in 1991; the new routes will come into effect from July this year. The Temuka to Timaru service was not part of the review and at this stage will remain the same.

ENDS

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