Wish for speedier Napier-to-Hastings bus routes

The Napier-to-Hastings bus route is proving successful with more passengers climbing on board but a call is being made to increase the number of express services between the twin cities.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council was in charge of regional bus services and its transport manager Carol Gilbertson reported route 12, from Hastings to Napier via EIT in Taradale and the Hawke's Bay Hospital on Omahu Rd, had become popular since the service had increased its frequency.

It operated every 15 minutes in peak times and every 30 minutes during off-peak, Monday to Friday.

But the trip from one city to the other takes about an hour prompting the suggestion to up the commuter express service, which is a 30-minute journey between the cities.

Councillor Liz Remmerswaal said there were two morning and an evening commuter express bus services between Hastings/Havelock North and Napier.

"Quicker services would be useful to passengers, though I don't think a service every 15 minutes would be feasible in Hawke's Bay," she said.

"More use of public transport would also reduce the need to build costly wider roads and is likely to be taken up more as the price of fuel continues to go up."

Mrs Gilbertson's report also said the six-month trial of the Napier-Ahuriri-Westshore return bus route continued to prove popular with both residents and visitors.

Staff were looking at passenger figures to present to the council to help it decide where the route should be a permanent service.

The council was also looking at installing goBus signage at all bus stops so the route numbers and information could be clearly read by passengers.

It would also help support a case to introduce a "text-a-bus service" where passengers text through the number of a bus stop and a reply is sent advising the scheduled time of the next bus.

"In order for this to proceed, staff are seeking agreement from Napier City Council and Hastings District Council to the goBus signage being installed, which would show the bus stop number," Mrs Gilbertson's report said.