It’s the bypass
28/02/2007 12:00:00 a.m.
STAGECOACH says Wellington’s new bypass is now causing the delays to Wellington’s bus services.
The company came under fire in early February due to buses not arriving on time or at all. A shortage of drivers was initially blamed for the unreliable service.
"We had planned for extra school bus services through the Wellington Regional Council but we didn’t get the [bus driver] numbers right," says Ian Turner, Stagecoach commercial manager.
Stagecoach brought more than 20 drivers from Auckland, Hamilton, and Lower Hutt. Forty have commenced training and are expected to be on the job within eight weeks.
"But since February 19 driver shortage has not been the reason for the continued delays," says Turner.
"The general consensus is the traffic congestion is caused by the newly opened bypass. Quite often our buses are up to 40 minutes late. This also affects motorists, taxis and commercial vehicles. We have been promised that the traffic will ease with the opening of the new off-ramp on March 25."
However Turner isn’t convinced this will ease traffic on Victoria, Taranaki, and Willis Streets off Karo Drive – the new name for the bypass – nor the main problem areas around the Basin Reserve and Newtown area.
"Of course there’s a worry that it won’t get better and in that case all the movers and shakers need to get together to do something about it," Turner says.
In the meantime complaints about the disrupted services have reduced since the new bus drivers were brought in.
Turner points out Stagecoach has spent over $500,000 flying down and accommodating out-of-town bus drivers, reducing the March Gold Pass by 50%, and contracting Wellington Combined Taxis to provide free shuttles to run the Beacon Hill route during the morning peak.
And the City Circular route is temporally cancelled to free drivers for other duties.
"The school services are the first priority," says Turner.
