Rodney Local Board is paying $31,000 to a New York-based public transport, logistics and technology consultancy to look into the viability of potential new bus and shuttle services, including one for Milldale.
The study and any subsequent new services will be funded by the Board’s transport targeted rate (TTR), which will have up to an extra $1.5million per year to spend from May, when Auckland Transport (AT) takes over the running of two previously TTR-funded bus routes, the 998 from Wellsford to Warkworth and the 126 between Westgate and Albany.
A list of potential new routes and services was discussed with AT during a Board workshop in November and a shortlist drawn up for further investigation. This workshop, as with all Rodney Local Board workshops, was not open to the public or the press, but the study was discussed at the Board’s February meeting.
The shortlist included the introduction of a new bus or shuttle service between Milldale and Hibiscus Coast bus station, across the motorway in Silverdale.
Dairy Flat member Louise Johnston said it was good to see that Milldale might finally be getting some kind of bus service, but she wanted to know when or if it might be funded by AT as part of the regional land transport plan.
AT senior network planner Dave Hilson said it would happen in the long-term, but for now, there was still uncertainty over budgets and infrastructure.
“This investigation goes hand in hand with what the budget is looking like at the time and how the road network is progressing,” he said. “You can’t get a full-size bus down there at the moment.”
Johnston said she had been told by Milldale’s developer that there was a route a smaller bus could take.
“We need something,” she said. “At the moment, some people are walking through the Silverdale interchange to get to the bus station.”
As some of the other potential new services may be on-demand, AT recommended the use of specialist consultant Via Mobility, which has already worked with AT on ride-share trials in Devonport and Takanini.
“Via Mobility is a US-based organisation, but with an Australian office and staff in New Zealand,” AT said. “Via Mobility has had the most experience running projects in New Zealand.”
Members voted to approve funding of $31,000 to investigate the viability of the new bus or shuttle service between Milldale and Hibiscus Coast bus station, as well as shuttles in Warkworth, Leigh and Sandspit, and an on-demand shuttle from Muriwai Beach to Riverhead. Two members, Tim Holdgate and Colin Smith, voted against.
