Currently, city-bound buses leaving Whangarei Hospital are experiencing difficulties turning right across busy Maunu Rd.
Sharlene Selkirk, the Northland Regional Council’s Public Passenger Transport Officer, says as larger vehicles, buses are regularly facing delays of several minutes before a suitably safe gap opens up in the traffic.
“These difficulties exiting the hospital grounds can then have a flow-on effect, delaying those waiting for the bus further along the route and affecting scheduled departure times.”
Mrs Selkirk says in a bid to address the situation – and bring more certainty to timetables - city-bound buses leaving the hospital grounds will from Monday 29 September only turn left, travelling to Maunu before heading back into the city.
“That will mean city-bound passengers leaving Whangarei Hospital effectively have two options. Our preference is that they’re picked up from the current stop inside the hospital grounds and ferried to the city via Maunu.”
She says those wanting a shorter route can leave the hospital grounds and go direct into the city from a nearby stop at 224 Maunu Rd. “But this option will require people to cross Maunu Rd on foot. Given the busy nature of the road, the Regional Council will be strongly encouraging people leaving the hospital to take the longer option via Maunu whenever possible.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Selkirk says from 29 September another change to the Route 6 Maunu/Hospital service will see it extended by several hundred metres to include the Te Hape/Cemetery Rds intersection.
The service currently ends outside the Whangarei Museum, but users have been requesting the extension.
Mrs Selkirk says further changes will be made to the new CityLink service – launched in July this year – as necessary.
“As we’ve indicated previously, with any new operation – especially one which is operating more often over longer hours – there will need to be the odd tweak from time to time in response to public feedback or to improve efficiencies.”
Mrs Selkirk says buses on the affected route have been carrying signs advising of the latest changes since early this month.
For latest timetable and fare information, visit www.nrc.govt.nz/bus