Jarrod Gilbert
The Cambridge to Hamilton regional bus stops at the Velodrome to pick up a passenger. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Half-price bus fares as part of the government’s cost of living support are contributing to an increase in patronage on regional bus services from Cambridge and Te Awamutu to Hamilton.
And those numbers are expected to rise further with the launch of services from Te Kuiti and Tokoroa which stop in both towns but at fewer places between there and Hamilton.
Figures released to Waipā District Council’s Service Delivery committee show people using public transport is well ahead of last year – when Covid restrictions were in place – and now ahead of pre Covid levels.
Bryan Hudson
Transportation manager Bryan Hudson said design and planning was also well advanced for electric bus charging stations in Cambridge and Kihikihi. Diesel powered buses currently run on the regional services.
The once a day Tokoroa and Te Kuiti weekday service had a low-key launch earlier this month.
Waikato Regional Council’s Waipā- King Country councillor Stu Kneebone said the new services were on trial for 18 months subject to patronage.
They have come about as the result of a stakeholder group involving a number of parties, including Te Mahau, University of Waikato, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga and South Waikato district councils with funding assistance from Waka Kotahi.
“It’s a really good example of everyone working together to improve services for the community and reduce congestion on our roads,” said Kneebone.
“Both Cambridge and Hamilton are suffering from too many cars and not enough capacity on our urban transport networks to accommodate them.
Stu Kneebone
“Road capacity is unlikely to change unless we change our behaviour, so public transport is a very obvious solution.
“I appreciate it’s a big change for many, but I don’t see that we have any other realistically affordable alternatives, and it’s good for the planet,” said Kneebone.
Earlier this month The News revealed Waikato medical professional Luk Chin was championing an electric bus service for around Cambridge.
“I’m really supportive of these sorts of initiatives to improve connectivity for the community. Particularly for those who can’t use private cars and also because I think that we simply can’t continue to rely on private cars for all of our travel in and amongst our urban centres, as we don’t have the ability to accommodate them,” he said.
The Tokoroa Connector leaves at 7.10am, arrives in Cambridge opposite the Town Hall at 8.08am and in Hamilton at 8.50am. Its only stops in between are at the Velodrome, Tamahere, Knighton Road and the Transport Centre, unlike the regional services which stop throughout Hamilton.
It leaves Hamilton at 4.45pm and arrives in Cambridge at 5.28pm and Tokoroa at 6.26pm.
The Te Kuiti Connector leaves the town at 6.50am, arrives in Kihikihi at 7.30am, Te Awamutu at 7.37am and Ōhaupō at 7.49am. The service finishes at Wintec Rotokauri at 8.23am where it leaves at 5.15pm, arriving in Te Kuiti at 6.47pm.
Numbers using the regional bus service from Te Awamutu to Hamilton are on the up.
