New bus stops in Tauranga city centre improve access to key areas

Tauranga City Council is replacing the temporary bus interchange in Durham St with several new bus stops spread throughout the city centre. Photo / Supplied

• Six new bus stop bays opened in Tauranga’s city centre, improving access to southern areas.
• The stops on Durham St reduce walking distances to key locations like Elizabeth St.
• Tauranga City Council aims to encourage bus use by positioning stops near retail and hospitality businesses.

Six new bus stop bays opened in Tauranga’s city centre today.

The new stops, in southern Durham St, replace temporary bus stops further along Durham St, which will be removed by the end of next month.

Tauranga City Council city centre infrastructure lead Shawn Geard said in a statement the new bus stops were part of a strategy to reduce walking times for people wanting to use public transport.

“We want to give people more choice when travelling to and from our city centre,” he said.

“Research shows that people are more likely to choose buses if they are within easy walking distance of their destination.

“These new stops are close to a wide range of retail and hospitality businesses in the southern city centre, as well as the University of Waikato,” Geard said.

Te Papa ward councillor Rod Taylor said a lot of hard work went into creating the new bus stops for commuters and visitors to our city centre.

“Making it easier for people to come into town helps to spur growth and make our city centre more appealing,” Ward said.

The new bus stops have low-impact shelters, which are specially designed for the narrow street. They provide weather protection alongside easy access to shops and businesses.

The new stops join eight other bus stops spread throughout the city centre – in Harington and Hamilton Sts, Dive Cres and near Baycourt.

Collectively, they provide public transport within a few minutes’ walk of most parts of the city centre.

Tauranga City Council will this year move the Intercity bus stop from its Dive Cres site to Elizabeth St so it will be closer to the new bus stops and people can transfer between services more easily.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council runs the city’s bus network and Tauranga City Council owns infrastructure such as bus stops, bus shelters, bench seats and bus lanes.

The two councils work together to co-ordinate this system.