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New hub for NZ

Plans are progressing for a new bus hub in Dunedin which should be operational by 2021

A new central-city hub for Dunedin buses is a step closer now submissions have been taken, with a view to bring its public transport system into the future.

Bus Go Dunedin submitted its thoughts on the draft Otago Southland Regional Land Transport plan and these will these now be considered, as the heavily student-populated city prepares for growth.

While supporting the venture wholeheartedly, the group presented some key ideas on how the hub, and bus ticketing system, could be made more user-friendly and accessible to all.

Bus Go Dunedin’s members would like to see “a convenient transfer between local bus services; a single hub for local and long distance buses, so travelers can combine local and long distance trips”, the submission reads.

Overall, they want “a single place where passengers can access all bus routes, so occasional bus users can just turn up and find the correct service easily”.

The goal should be a well- designed “pleasant environment, which allows existing services to be maintained, without adding extra wait times to through services”.

Another issue that was raised in their submission was a wish to develop a one-ticket system, to make it easier when more than one bus trip was required for someone to get to their destination.

The advocacy group also says adequate funds must be allocated after completion of the hub, to keep it well maintained, safe and well-lit and stress that it must be fully accessible to those with limited mobility.

The hub is likely to take the form of a dedicated outdoor area comprised of ultra-modern bus stops and will also become the port of call for long haul coaches – with construction mooted to begin in 2018.

Otago Regional Council and Environment Southland have been working together to produce the draft plan, and will now start working on their revised vision for bus transport in the city.

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