A new Orbus route, linking Arrowtown and Queenstown, via Arthurs Point, will launch on June 30.
Otago Regional Council public and active transport committee co-chairwoman Alexa Forbes said that route, which would continue on to Jacks Point, would run every 30 minutes between 6am and 9am, and 3pm and 6pm, and hourly outside those times.
At present, Arrowtown commuters have to travel along State Highway 6, and through the Frankton Bus Hub, to reach Queenstown’s CBD, a journey which takes about 40 minutes.
The new route 4 bus is expected to cut the travel time between Arrowtown and the CBD by about half.
It will create the direct "back route" along Malaghans Rd, which commuters have been requesting since Orbus was established because it avoids the "time-sucking congestion" along the state highway.
It will also provide an improved connection for those living along the southern corridor, which means they will not have to change buses at the Frankton hub to get to the CBD.
The route 2 bus will continue its current route along the Arrowtown-Lake Hayes road, ending at the Frankton hub.
Cr Forbes said the route 3 bus, between Kelvin Heights and Quail Rise, would also move to a 30-minute peak frequency on June 30.
The updated routes fulfilled some "long-standing requests", and would increase capacity where needed, while providing better journeys for passengers on those routes, she said.
The Queenstown timetables would reflect "more accurate travel times" for all services, based on traffic volumes at peak and off-peak times, with minor tweaks to times on routes 1 (Sunshine Bay/Remarkables Park Town Centre) and 5 (Lake Hayes Estate/Queenstown).
The Queenstown ferry will continue its existing timetable. — APL
