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New Tauranga bus services

Environment Bay of Plenty has awarded the new Tauranga bus contract to Go Bus.

Go Bus will start services in Tauranga on 29 June 2009.

Improved Services

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.

The benefits include:

• A service on all public holidays except Christmas Day
• Sunday buses
• Later weekday services
• Low floor buses
• 21 new buses
• New direct Papamoa – Bayfair – Mount Maunganui service
• New direct Pyes Pa (The Lakes) – Greerton – City – Bayfair - Mount Maunganui service
• New direct Greerton - City – Mount Maunganui service
• New link from City to Tauranga City Airport
• New link to Grace Hospital - Cheyne Road, Pyes Pa
• Additional Maungatapu – City service
• Increase in the number of buses along Cameron Road
• Create three major ‘corridors’ for bus services – Mount to City, Cameron Road, Papamoa/Bayfair to City
• Increase in the number of buses along Maunganui Road
• Significantly reduce duplication of routes and departure times
• Bigger buses (40 and 35-seater buses)
• Simpler fare structure

Go Bus will start urban passenger services in Tauranga on 28 June 2009.

Better Buses

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.

Why Go Bus?

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.

About Go Bus

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.

It has set up a local office in Greerton.

New Name

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

Any Questions?

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

All media inquiries to Senior Communications Advisor Fiona Robinson.