Katikati

New Bay Hopper - Katicoach Service

From 5 January 2010 there will be a new Katicoach route and timetable. There will be:

A new direct Katikati - Tauranga CBD - Tauranga Hospital commuter service on weekdays.
A new direct Omokoroa - Tauranga CBD - Tauranga Hospital commuter service on weekdays.
An extra 'shopper' service on Saturdays.

Thursday, 31 December will be the last operating day of the current Katikati - Omokoroa - Tauranga CBD - Tauranga Hospital commuter service.

The new operator will be Katikati Bus Company.

There will be no change in fares but current Smartride cards will need to be replaced. New Smartride cards will be given to passengers the week beginning 14 December.

The vast majority of current routes will be maintained and new direct routes, new links and additional services to existing routes will be added to the network.

Go Bus runs one of the youngest bus fleets in New Zealand. The buses are larger and more accessible, which is good news for parents with buggies, people in wheelchairs and people who are less mobile.

Go Bus has invested $13 million in a new fleet during the past six months and will be investing a further $13 million for this contract.

Go Bus was the lowest price tender bid. Environment Bay of Plenty's decision was in line with New Zealand Transport Agency guidelines. It was also prudent for Environment Bay of Plenty to consider the cost to ratepayers of running the bus service in the current global financial situation.

Go Bus has been operating school and charter services in the Bay of Plenty for a number of years and has depots in Te Puke, Mount Maunganui and Greerton. It operates urban services in Hamilton and in Napier/Hastings.

It employs 40 drivers in Tauranga for these services and has just recruited an extra 20.

Environment Bay of Plenty is looking at options for a new name for the service because Bayline owns the trademark for Bay Hopper.

Staff experts are Transport Policy Manager Garry Maloney and Senior Transport Planner Emlyn Hatch.

More than 40 000 older people in the Bay of Plenty will be eligible for free travel on off-peak public transport services from next week.

Environment Bay of Plenty is being funded to provide SuperGold Card holders with free off-peak travel on scheduled public transport services from Wednesday 1 October 2008.

Free bus travel is available on Tauranga, Katikati, Ohope, Murupara and Rotorua urban services.

Transport Committee chairman Andrew von Dadelszen said the free travel would enable mature residents to explore the beautiful region and maintain their independence.

"Sixties are the new forties. Many of our 65-year-old-plus residents and visitors are still fit, active and work part-time or undertake voluntary work. From October they will be able to commute outside of peak hours for free and experience the difference this makes to their bank balance and the environment," Mr von Dadelszen said.

The New Zealand Household Travel Survey shows most people aged 65-years-old and older do most of their public transport travel during off-peak hours, making an estimated eight million trips per year on buses and trains.

Off peak hours in the Bay of Plenty are from 9 am to 3 pm and from 6:30 pm to the end of service on weekdays, and any time on weekends and public holidays.

A full list of eligible services in Bay of Plenty is available from 0800 4 BAYBUS.

Environment Bay of Plenty is working to extend free travel for Supergold Card holders to Rotorua, Matata and on its remaining Eastern Bay of Plenty services before the end of the year.

The SuperGold Card is available to all eligible New Zealanders aged 65 years old or older and those under this age who receive the New Zealand Superannuation or the Veterans Pension. The card was launched in August 2007, providing access to business discounts, government and local authority services, entitlements and concessions.

What transport concessions are available to SuperGold Card holders?
Card holders will be entitled to free off-peak public transport services within a region.

What times are ‘off-peak’?
Councils will be funded for SuperGold Card holders who travel between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm and from 6:30 pm to the end of service on weekdays, and any time on weekends and public holidays. Councils may choose to provide free travel outside these hours at their own expense.

How can I get a SuperGold Card?
Contact the SuperGold Card Centre on 0800 25 45 65, e-mail info@supergold.govt.nz or download a copy of an application from www.supergold.govt.nz. You can also apply for a card at any Work and Income Service Centre.

We are sorry you have found the ride to work more crowded and uncomfortable recently.

The dramatic rise in petrol prices has taken us and the rest of the New Zealand by surprise. It has also led to unprecedented demand for bus services including the Katicoach.

The Katicoach now has more than double the amount of passengers it had before Christmas at peak times.

We are really pleased you are doing your bit for the environment by choosing to travel by bus and we want to retain your custom.

We will do our best to make sure that no one will be left at bus stops on the Katicoach run. We have a temporary solution in place that will enable the driver to call for a shuttle bus to pick up people who have been unable to get on the Katicoach because of overcrowding.

Long term there are several options available to Environment Bay of Plenty, which funds the bus service, and our staff are working on them now.

The Katicoach route serves key areas of population growth. Environment Bay of Plenty is therefore committed to providing public transport to these communities.

If you have any further questions please call 0800 4 BAYBUS or call me, Garry Maloney, on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267).