The trees have come out and it's now fast-forward as workmen prepare a site for a new longer-haul bus services terminus in Napier. Photo / Paul Taylor
A terminus for long-haul bus services in Napier is expected to be operating within a few weeks, hopefully ending long-running debate about a site for the arrival and departure of backpackers and other bus travellers in the city.
Work preparing the site, off Clive Square West, began last week, and
the city council is providing parking space for up to five buses from such services as InterCity and Naked Bus, operating between Napier and the major centres of Wellington and Auckland.
Allowance is being made for buses also to park on the street alongside the terminus area, being developed from what had been 38 leased parking space for inner city workers.
It is not clear if both companies plan to use the terminus, which the city council hopes will ease congestion around bus stops in Dalton St in the heart of the CBD, used by InterCity Coachlines, and just 50m from the main CBD bus-stops of city, suburban and Napier-Hastings services operated by GoBus.
Passengers of longer-haul budget operator Naked Bus currently alight and embark outside the Napier i-Site visitor information Centre near the Soundshell on Marine Parade.
