ARC prunes east, south bus services

By WAYNE THOMPSON

The Auckland Regional Council has cut some southern and eastern bus services - despite this year's record $59 million levy on ratepayers for passenger transport.

The council confirmed 10 route and service cancellations yesterday, saying they were culled after a review of rates-subsidised contracts with bus operators.

A lack of bidding interest from operators in some routes is blamed for fewer service improvements than expected with a $14.9 million budget for subsidised bus services.

ARC transport committee chairwoman Catherine Harland said the budget allowed a 10 per cent increase, or an additional $1.4 million a year.

She said it was disappointing not to be able to deliver the level of services that transport users had said they wanted.

An ARC consultation exercise drew 600 submissions.

But public suggestions to improve services preceded the tender round, said Ms Harland, and priorities for services had to be set according to the budget.

The wish-list of services would have blown the ARC subsidy budget by $7.8 million.

Ms Harland said the contracts review was a time to eliminate some services which had low patronage.

In most cases, she said, the cancelled services were replaced by others so people would not lose access to public transport.

The ARC says major improvements include a new two-way Dannemora to Half Moon Bay ferry loop service, a new half-hourly service from Bucklands Beach to Middlemore Hospital and more frequent Manukau cross-town services.

Operators were asked to tender for contracts in Manukau City, Papakura and Franklin Districts and the Remuera, Eastern Bays, Glen Innes, Tamaki, Onehunga and Manukau Rd areas of Auckland City.

Routes to feel the pruning shears range from the weekend Mt Wellington shoppers' service to the Route 703 Remuera service via Portland Rd, where operating hours have been shortened and night trips cancelled.

Service changes came into force on November 9.

Bus service changes

Cuts

* Route 443/444 Manukau Circle: No weekends.

* Route 500 Mt Wellington shoppers service: No weekends.

* Route 435 Papatoetoe/Otahuhu to Auckland: Cancelled. (Route 435X still operates.)

* Route 31 Onehunga-Auckland: No longer via Green Lane Hospital.

* Route 645 Onehunga-Auckland via Parnell: Cancelled.

* Routes 443/444 Manukau Circle: No Saturday.

* Route 482 Otahuhu -Ti Rakau: Cancelled.

* Route 703 Remuera via Portland Rd: Operating hours cut - night trips cancelled

New services

* Routes 56, 56A: Two-way Dannemora-Half Moon Bay Ferry Loop

* Route 57 Bucklands Beach to Middlemore Hospital half-hourly weekdays