Chapter / Clause / Subclause – General 22 submitters - Waikato ...

Submission summary
Submitter: 25 Duncan, Andrea
Matter: PTP11-25.1
Summary: I wish to comment on Sections 6.2 Service Optimisation (p.46) and
Network Review (p32); specifically in light of a Waikato Times article July 21
stating services to the Glenview (and Mahoe) route would increase to 15 minutes
intervals on weekdays between 9am and 6pm.
While I would support more frequent services from the Transport Centre to and
from the hospital I strongly object to more frequent bus movements down Pelorus
Street. Buses at 15 minutes intervals would mean buses every 7 ½ minutes
down our street to and from the route end in Garden Heights Avenue.
At present the buses run empty, or near to, down Pelorus Street twice (to and
from nearby route end) within the current 30 minute route services, and until
reading the news article I was hopeful with your proposed service optimisation
and network reviews that you would decrease or cease services down our street.
Several residents, including myself, have in the past written complaining of heavy
vehicle vibration damaging our homes, speed of buses, and safety issues in a
narrow, winding residential street. In addition the surface of the road is rapidly
deteriorating. The proposed continuous heavy traffic route down our street would
increase these issues considerably.
Decision
Comments noted.
We would like to clarify the changes that have recently been made to the
Glenview and Mahoe timetables.
Council have not increases the amount or number of services on these routes.
What has been done is to change the times that each service leaves the
Transport Centre so that they now leave approximately 15 minutes apart rather
than the one minute apart that they used to. Therefore we are now able to
provide a service up to the Hospital every 15 minutes without incurring any
additional cost of service.
As a result there are no more buses travelling along Pelorus Street than before.
No change required.
In reference to your Objective 4 to Improve access to essential services (page 4)
and Target services (page 8) I suggest a more effective option to be a frequent
taxi van/mini-bus service to and from the hospital on a continuous basis from the
Transport Centre. This would leave Mahoe and Glenview routes at their current
frequency, as it seems overkill and expensive to run buses the full length of these
two routes just to provide service to the hospital on a more frequent service. I
also do not see this improving the fare recovery policy if more frequent services
to the outer ends of the two routes are not already adequately patronised. Surely
the 30 minutes current service is enough for residents living on these routes to
get a drop off at the hospital.
While the matter of more frequent services down Pelorus Street may be deemed
by your organisation as minor and not requiring consultation to effected parties –
9.3.4 (page 79), this matter is not necessarily minor to residents who live on this
Doc # 2072711 Page 145