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Bus services will be booming in and around Warkworth from next month, with a new loop service around town and extra buses to and from Hibiscus Coast.
The new Rodney Local Board-funded 999 loop bus trial will begin its half-hourly service on Sunday, July 21, followed by the 995 service to and from Silverdale increasing its frequency to every 30 minutes on weekdays, instead of just at peak times at present.
The new loop bus will run clockwise every 30 minutes, starting at 6am and finishing at 7.30pm on weekdays, and 5.50am to 7.20pm on weekends and public holidays. Fares will cost the same as any single zone trip on AT, which is currently $2.60 for adults and $1.35 for children.
Buses will start at the community transport hub next to the showgrounds, then stop in Baxter Street, Percy Street, Lilburn Street, Pulham Road, Walton Avenue, Woodcocks Road, Mansel Drive and Falls Road/Hill Street.
Auckland Transport (AT) principal service network planner Dave Hilson told a local board workshop on June 5 that plans to also put a bus stop in Hudson Road, near Pak’nSave, would not be going ahead at this stage.
He said this was due to safety issues around buses having to cross traffic and a turning lane, and a stormwater catch pit being in the way.
However, Hilson said Pak’nSave had approached AT about putting a stop inside its carpark, which would be looked into.
“We’re always a wee bit nervous about bus stops on private land and in carparks, but we will investigate,” he said.
However, the workshop heard from elected member relationship partner Beth Houlbrooke that AT had not been contacted by builders or developers about the possibility of taking the Mansel Drive bus stop outside Summerset Falls closer to the Kowhai Falls retail area (MM, May 27).
“I don’t think we have any record of them approaching AT directly with that offer. We heard secondhand, through Glyn Williams, that was available and we read it in the Mahurangi Matters, but I don’t believe they approached us directly,” she said.
Members heard there had been four complaints from businesses about a bus stop near the top of Lilburn Street taking away parking, as well as some concerns over visibility at a stop between View Road and Albert Street, where Hill Street meets Falls Road.
“At this stage the intention is to build all of these stops for July 21 and then monitor them,” he said, adding that detailed data on how and when the new service was being used could be obtained from AT Hop card use.
Hilson said there was scope to alter stops, or extend the hours of the loop service, once it had been up and running for a while.
The new service will be publicised via posters at existing bus stops and in schools and local businesses, local newspaper advertising, targeted social media and via 2900 printed flyers delivered to Warkworth homes and businesses.
Board members pointed out that you could take two or even more bus trips locally and only pay one fare, such as taking the loop bus and then catching another bus to Wellsford, Silverdale or Snells Beach, for example.
Chair Brent Bailey said that sounded like a bargain.
“This has been a long time coming and I can’t wait to see what happens next,” he said.
