Bus routes changing after public feedback

Graphic: ODT
Graphic: ODT

Changes to Dunedin's Wakari and Helensburgh bus routes will start rolling on Monday.

Otago Regional Council communications committee chairman and councillor Michael Deaker said instead of running along Centennial Ave and Shetland St, route 33 (Corstorphine-Wakari) will begin at Forresbank Ave before entering Balmacewen Rd via Crichton St and Lynn St.

It would then follow the length of Chapman St, turning into Nairn St then follow Stuart St into the city.

Route 50 (St Clair Park-Helensburgh) would also change on Monday, he said.

Instead of running along Lynn St and Highgate, the service would depart from Tuckett St, via Centennial Ave and Helensburgh Rd, travelling the length of Balmacewen Rd into Maori Hill.

The service would then continue into Drivers Rd towards the city.

''We were pleased to be able to accommodate the strong feedback we received from the local community in Wakari and Helensburgh,'' Cr Deaker said.

''While route and timetable changes are quite a logistical challenge, we have been able to alter these routes without affecting the wider network.''

The remainder of each of the two routes would be unchanged, meaning passengers using the City-Corstorphine end of route 33, or the City-St Clair Park portion of route 50 would be unaffected.

A map of the new routes and updates of the timetables was being put in Helensburgh and Wakari mailboxes this week, he said.

Information was also available on the ORC website.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

 

Comments

Pleased to hear, but if the staff and council had listened to residents in the first place there would be no need for countless hours of expensive deliberations (which we pay for). It was only due to the work put in by locals that this happened. Not good enough ORC. Time for change of council and staff who work for the people who pay them

It would be interesting to know if any bus users will transfer between Route 50 and Route 33 now that both routes travel over the same short stretch of Balmacewan Rd. ORC opposes route overlaps in principle but they are really helpful for transfers. This transfer would give people in the Helensburgh area access to Roslyn shops, Moana Pool and three high schools without having to go via the city and then up Stuart St.
ODT's graphic of the routes is a lot clearer than the one on ORC's pamphlets. It's a pity ORC can't put accurate map graphics like this in their timetables and also show location of bus stops.

Ever since doing a uni study in the 80s on the bus service of the DCC, I am surprised that this massively loss making service continues in its present form, especially since car ownership has more than doubled and yet the number of buses seems to be similar if not more.

I can not understand why buses that can take 40 seated and 25 standing passengers are used when the average number of fee paying passengers using the service is less than 3- whenever I see a bus outside peak times. Why we run these big polluting buses when a small van would suffice is beyond me. Then again jobs and power for the lads need to be maintained- after all- there is a budget.....

 

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