Public outcry leads bus to compromise
Public outcry over the possible axing of six Christchurch bus routes has convinced authorities to come up with a compromise.
The routes were on the chopping block, along with possible cuts to a travel subsidy scheme for disabled people, as authorities tried to plug a $4 million public transport funding hole. Significantly increasing fares or increasing rates were among the other options considered.
The proposed cuts were unpopular in the community and were criticised by Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, who said the situation was ‘‘unfortunate’’. The six routes are the worst performing in the city, accounting for just 2.3 per cent of all bus travel between them (about 307,000 annual passenger movements).
The proposal was revealed in Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) draft 10-year plan, which received 765 public submissions. More than 560 submissions related to the bus routes, with just 48 supporting the proposed cuts. ECan manages public transport in Canterbury.
ECan’s solution is to combine some routes and adjust the route and timing of others. It will contribute to a planned rates rise of about 4.9 per cent, up from the 4.5 per cent originally proposed in the plan.
Route 107 from Styx Mill to Northlands will stay, but will run hourly with reduced overall hours. The existing Route 28 will be extended into Casebrook to replace the 108. It will connect the suburb to the CBD and run every 20 minutes at peak times.
Routes 135 and 150 will be combined as a new service for Prestons, the new QEII facility and the new schools being developed in the area. The new service will not go to New Brighton as the old 135 did.
A section of Route 145 will run from Westmorland to Barrington Mall as before, but will then be extended into the CBD with the section between St Martins and Eastgate discontinued. A school service will remain for students going from Spencerville to Avonside Girls’ and Shirley Boys’ high schools.
Route 28 will run three trips morning and night to Rapaki to replace Route 535. A direct link from Rapaki or Lyttelton to Ferrymead or Eastgate will no longer be offered.