Increasingly in the evening rush hour, the buses to Birkenhead/Glenfield fill up at least one, sometimes two, stops before Fanshawe St, the final pick-up before we go on the Harbour Bridge. I've seen this happen regularly from 5.30pm to as late as the 7.30pm buses. What happens to the people we leave behind as we career past with the "bus full" sign on? They look mighty ticked off, understandably. Sometimes you'll hear the bus driver radio someone to say they've driven past, but what response time is there to get these people a bus and how many buses drive past them full? And who is keeping count? Surely if this is happening often enough Auckland Transport needs to have a stern word to the Birkenhead Buses people and increase the number of buses or frequency of timetable? Or do they count over-full buses and brassed-off customers as "success" in some weird way to put people off using their buses and go back to car congestion? Catherine Browne, Birkenhead.
The good folk at Auckland Transport have made the assumption that you are referring to the 973 and the 974 services that go to Highbury Shops, Mokoia Rd, Verrans Corner and Birkenhead Rd. Between 5pm and 5.30pm there is a five-minute frequency, between 5.30pm and 6.40pm there is a 10-minute frequency, and after that, until 8pm, there is a bus every 20 minutes. So at peak there are a lot of services that could pick up passengers and the next bus is never far away. Auckland Transport has been monitoring these services and is working with Birkenhead Transport. Together they are reviewing services travelling into the city in the mornings and out in the evenings.
Can you tell us what is happening with the old grassy pinetree area inside the Western Springs Stadium? They cut down the trees, now they are cutting into the bank area on the hill. Is this for seating? Jan and Marion Mills, Auckland.
Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) owns and operates Mt Smart Stadium, QBE (North Harbour) Stadium and Western Springs Stadium on behalf of Auckland Council in its role as shareholder.
RFA is currently investing $2.5 million into the amphitheatre of Western Springs to create a grassed terraced embankment. This will increase customer experience and safety for all sporting and entertainment events at the venue. Works should be complete by early January.
