TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
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MAY 25, 2023
We’re on the bus By Jeremy Smith
Driver Calvin Linton outside his bus at the Te Awamutu i-Site bus stop.
The wheels on the bus go round and round, and Te Awamutu and Kihikihi commuters are increasingly hopping on board. Figures provided to The News by Waikato Regional Council - which is responsible for overseeing regional bus operations - show more than 11,000 commuters caught the bus service between Kihikihi and Hamilton in April. Nearly a third, or more than 3700, of the 11,380 passengers who caught the bus into Hamilton last month did so boarding at the Gorst Ave Te Awamutu i-Site - the route’s busiest stop. In Cambridge, 11,027 people used the respective bus service into Hamilton in April. Last week, The News was provided data, also given to Waipā District Council, which showed that on two days last month - April 9 and April 17 - no passengers caught the Cambridge bus. The regional council has since confirmed that was incorrect, attributing it to “technical issues” with its patronage database. In fact, on April 9, 64 passengers caught the Cambridge bus, and, on April 17, 443 passengers were aboard. In last week’s Budget, transport minister Michael Wood announced free public transport for children under 13 and half-price discounts for people under 25. The measures are projected to cost $327 million. Half price public transport for other commuters ends on June 30. Last Thursday, The News boarded the 7.30am bus in Te Awamutu to Hamilton.
Rose Anne Morgan – who grew up in Te Awamutu and now lives in Brisbane – was doing the same. Here visiting family in Te Awamutu for a month, Rose Anne said she had been catching the bus to Hamilton on most days during her stay. “I really enjoy it,” she said. “It’s an easy way to travel, to support the Waipā economy and it’s nice to have somebody else doing the driving.” Her observations of the route in the time she’s been using it are that it’s always “well frequented”. On the day The News took the ride along, there were mostly school students making their way into Hamilton aboard. “There’ve been very busy days where there only a handful of seats spare,” Rose Anne said. “It’s great to see people out and about using public transport and it’s lovely getting to have some wonderful conversations.” Calvin Linton has been driving the route since October, and driving buses since 2019. Calvin, who lives near Te Awamutu, drives four trips between Hamilton and Waipā daily. A second driver does an additional five. “I’m loving it,” Calvin told The News. “The passengers are awesome – in fact, I was really moved last year at Christmas time because lots of them even gave me presents.” On the return trip, Sheila Ingham boarded the bus at the Hamilton Transport Centre on the corner of Bryce and Anglesea streets to go to Te Awamutu. “Yes, I’ve done it quite a few times and it’s fantastic. It’s a 30-minute drive through a slice of rural paradise,” she
Rose Anne Morgan caught the 7.30am bus from Te Awamutu to Hamilton last Thursday. said. After hearing The News’ observations while travelling the route, Waipā Pironga-Kakepuku ward councillor Clare St Pierre said she was pleased to hear how many people were using the bus service. St Pierre, who sits on Waikato Regional Council’s regional transport committee, added she’s keen to see that usage keep increasing. “It’s great so many young people are making use of public transport. I’m also keen to see connectivity – the number of bus services - continue to grow, so public transport is even easier.” Meanwhile, use of the Te Kuiti Connector service - which travels between Te Kuiti and Hamilton stopping in Otorohanga, Kihikihi, Te Awamutu, Ohaupo and at the Hamilton Transport Centre – has topped 1033 since being launched in February. The Tokoroa Connector – from Tokoroa to Hamilton, stopping in Cambridge - has attracted 2232 passengers in the same time frame. ENDS 11TH JUNE
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