Improving Whanganui's urban bus service can only be good for the community according to one Horizons Regional councillor.
Nicola Patrick, one of two Whanganui representatives on the council, said the recommended changes to the city bus service was welcome news and had been largely driven by a "positive response" fromthe local community.
The regional council's transport committee surveyed Whanganui people earlier this year and the response from the public has helped frame a number of recommendations, among them extensions to some routes, looking at new routes as well as more frequent weekend services.
Ms Patrick cautioned that not everything being asked for could be actioned immediately as the regional council would need to go through a formal consultation cycle before committing any additional funds. Increasing the frequency of the services will come at an extra cost which could range from $88,000 to $157,000. But those costs do not include a 51 per cent NZ Transport Agency subsidy which could be accessed.
"Whanganui has a good basic public transport system and with some improvements, it can get better," she said.
"There are so many benefits to having public transport. It's cheap and easy to get around, retains your independence if you've stopped driving or don't have a car or are not so able to walk and bike places, plus it has a lower carbon footprint. It's an environmentally-friendly way to get to work or do your shopping or visit friends."
She said another recommendation from the transport committee to the council is provision of more bus shelters to help people, particularly those with their groceries of other shopping.
"It's not easy taking the bus in mixed weather carrying a load," Ms Patrick said. She said the review was "a step in the right direction" and she thanked Whanganui District councillor Graeme Young for his contribution to the review process.
"Graeme's the district council's representative on the transport committee and he put a lot of work into this. The need for more shelters for bus patrons was not a question in the survey but plenty of respondents mentioned it. As a result we've set up a special sub-committee and he's keen to be involved in that," Ms Patrick said.
More analysis will also be done on suggested new or amended routes. These include possible new services covering Bastia Hill and Durie Hill, Castlecliff and Gonville, a new hospital-Aramoho loop and a possible Putiki school service.
The transport committee endorsed the proposed changes and has asked Horizons staff to develop detailed costs and timetabling for the next committee meeting in February.
Horizons' current contract with bus company Tranzit expires in December 2018 but, to make for a smooth transition to any changes, the committee has suggested the contract be extended another nine months to August 2019.
