O¯ mokoroa to get more bus services

Bus services will be increased for O¯ mokoroa when the new Western Bay Tauranga network is rolled out on December 10.

An extra Bayhopper service has been added each weekday morning for those wanting to get into the Tauranga CBD from the Hamurana Shops in O¯ mokoroa. Services to Tauranga will depart from Hamurana Shops at 7.05am, 9.30am and near State Highway¯2 into the city.

4.20pm. Services to Omokoroa will depart from Willow Street at 7.55am, 2pm and

5.10pm.

Buses can be caught a further three times during the day from O¯ mokoroa Rd

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Public Transport committee chairman Lyall Thurston said the new Western Bay network has been designed to provide maximum flexibility for people, moving away from a CBD-focused network.

“We hope these changes give people more travel options,” Thurston said.

“They’ve been based on input from the community and will address some of the issues people experienced with the old network. The bus driving the route will be fitted with free Wi-Fi and a lowered floor.”

An additional change to the service will be discontinuation of the Saturday service from December 8. during peak travel¯times).

Bus fares from Omokoroa to Tauranga CBD are $4.40 per adult, or $2.60 for a concession fare and students with valid student ID, and SuperGold cardholders

Travel is free for SuperGold cardholders between 9am and 3pm. Using a Smartride card will give an additional 20 per cent discount off these fares.