My Account
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 three for Warkworth, Leigh and Sandspit.
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.
The shortlist included a local shuttle loop for Warkworth on weekdays between the town centre and the new park and ride transport hub being built next to the Warkworth Showgrounds, shuttle runs to Leigh and Sandspit from Warkworth at weekends, and an on-demand shuttle service between Te Hana and Wellsford.
However, an initial review by AT found the Te Hana to Wellsford shuttle was unlikely to be suitable for an on-demand service, as there were “minimal customer and operational benefits to be achieved due to the small customer base and distance involved”.
As some of the other potential new services in Kumeu and Dairy Flat may be on-demand, AT recommended the use of a 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 in its report to Board’s February meeting. “Via Mobility has had the most experience running projects in New Zealand.”
Warkworth member Steven Garner pointed out that no current bus services connected to the town’s industrial areas in and around Woodcocks and Hudson Roads.
“I’m concerned that the Warkworth routes don’t connect the industrial area with the rest of the community,” he said. “Services appear to be put on for tourists and shoppers, not the majority of people going to work. There are several thousand people a day going in there, plus the schools.”
AT senior network planner Dave Hilson said the proposed shuttle loop took in some of that area, near Hudson Road.
“It could be adaptable. That’s all part of the study,” he said.
He added that the investigation would also look at times and connectivity between all local bus services.
Another Warkworth member, Tim Holdgate, said he had read a news story in January that cited Warkworth bus services as a possible victim of Council spending cuts. However, this was refuted by Hilson.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Regardless of what the NZ Herald says, Warkworth is one of the last places we’d be cutting. We’re not cutting low frequency services in rural areas,” he said. “It’s more likely to be where there’s a bus every five minutes.”
Members voted to approve funding of $31,000 to investigate the viability of the new Warkworth, Leigh and Sandspit services, as well as an on-demand shuttle from Muriwai Beach to Riverhead and a new bus or shuttle service between Milldale and Hibiscus Coast bus station. Members Tim Holdgate and Colin Smith voted against.
