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After its first month of operation Warkworth’s new bus service has received the thumbs up from both the public and the Rodney Local Board.
Buses are running Warkworth and Mahurangi East, Matakana and Omaha, and then through to the Hibiscus Coast terminus, with connections to the city.
Board chair Beth Houlbrooke, who is collecting feedback unofficially online, says so far it’s going better than she ever expected.
“Commuters are liking it for work, students are using it and the elderly are on it to travel to the city,” Ms Houlbrooke says.
“I’m really pleased with the numbers so far, and I understand there was only standing room during the Kowhai Festival Huge Day Out.”
She has received some feedback requesting that times are changed and stops are increased.
“It’s clear that certain routes may need more frequency at peak times and more stops are needed in Warkworth, but these are things you expect to tweak while the service is new.”
A new service between Wellsford and Warkworth, that will complete a connection across the entire Auckland region, is due to start on February 24.
Ms Houlbrooke says the service will be a ‘game changer’, particularly for young people in North Rodney.
“Students will be able to get to university on buses from home, and it gives them the ability to reach services in the city.”
The service will stop twice north of Warkworth and turn around at Baxter Street.
AT HOP cards can be bought or topped up at the Warkworth i-SITE.
The bus to Hibiscus Coast Station is the most popular, with an average of 123 passengers a day. An average of 53 people have used the Algies Bay service daily and 34 for the Omaha service.
