Users of the new bus services in Gisborne, NZ, have provided feedback to council
Users of Gisborne’s new GizzyBus service have responded to Gisborne District Council’s call for feedback on its draft public transport plan.
A number of submissions have been received about the new bus routes and timetable which will be considered before the plan is finalised next month, according to Land Transport Manager Dave Hadfield.
However very little feedback has been received about council’s other subsidised public transport – the subsidised school bus service and taxi services for people with disabilities.
The Regional Public Transport Plan outlines what subsidised public transport council will provide, and subsidies are provided by New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and rates.
In the draft plan council is proposing to continue to offer and improve the services although improvements to any of the services will depend on funding.
“There has been a lot of interest in the subsidised school bus service over the last couple of years,” says Hadfield.
“Now is the time for people to have their say. The plan will be the guiding document for public transport for the next three years.”
School buses are currently funded 25 per cent by council, 25 per cent by NZTA and 50 per cent by the student and no changes are proposed to this funding model in the draft plan.
The plan does propose an investigation into alternate funding streams be done, which could reduce the fares and improve services.
Submissions on the Gisborne Regional Public Transport Plan close February 18, 2014.