Bus service road block could be cleared

A shoppers’ bus service between Levin and Waikanae could be on the road soon, after Greater Wellington regional councillor Nigel Wilson stepped in to help untangle some red tape thwarting the proposed trial.

Horizons Regional Council chairman Bruce Gordon earlier went on the offensive about the Wellington council’s failure to include a trial of the service in its regional transport plan.

Because the bus route would cross the regional boundary, Horizons could not get a New Zea- land Transport Agency subsidy for the trial without Greater Wellington’s co-operation.

Gordon called Wellington’s blocking of the trial ‘‘absolutely ridiculous’’.

Since then, the Kapiti-based Wellington regional councillor has met Gordon and is confident he can overcome the problem.

Wilson said he did not think there had been any intention to be obstructive.

‘‘It was just on of those things that went under the radar.’’

He said the Wellington transportation plan involved a massive amount of work, ‘‘and I can under- stand how it got lost in the mix’’.

Wilson said he was confident there would be a demand for the service.

It was not designed to compete with the Capital Connection, or with an Otaki to Waikanae service, but to provide a link later in the morning so Levin shoppers could get to Waikanae.

They could then connect with railway services into Wellington if they wanted to go further.

‘‘I’m all for better connectivity between the two regions,’’ Wilson said.

‘‘And I love the idea of it being a partnership. I would like to see more of this sort of thing.’’

Gordon said he was pleased Wilson had made the effort to visit Horizons in Palmerston North and seek a review.

‘‘He was very apologetic that our submission did not get the attention it deserved, and is confident he can get it through.’’

The next steps were for Horizons to provide more detail about the proposed route, with its stops, timetable, fares and costs.

Greater Wellington was likely to be asked to contribute $6500 for the first six months of the trial, and $13,000 a year after that.

Gordon said Horizons wanted a two-year trial, but had agreed it would pull the plug after one year if the trial was clearly failing.

Wilson hoped to present a paper to the Greater Wellington council on September 28 proposing a way forward.

The council would have to make a minor amendment to its transportation plan, which could be done without having to go through a full round of formal public consultation.

Gordon said he was pleased Horizons’ public condemnation of the situation had ‘‘struck a nerve’’ and that the decision was going to be reviewed.