Canterbury towns feel forgotten in bus review

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

A North Canterbury community fears it will lose its bus service under a review of the regional public transport plan.

Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell says her board warned Environment Canterbury (ECan) in 2019 the revised 97 Pegasus to Rangiora route was ‘‘set up to fail’’.

Now she fears the route could be axed altogether in the new Canterbury Regional Public Transport Plan.

‘‘It is a bitter disappointment."

An ECan spokesperson says the route is not under review at present, but it will likely be looked at in the future.

Powell said the board felt when they did the last review, they set up 97 to fail with the shortening of the route.

‘‘It misses out large areas, so people have to walk 20 minutes to catch the bus and it only runs every hour.

‘‘For a short trip to Rangiora, you’re going to take the car if you’re able to, but we want to encourage people to use public transport.’’

Powell said Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood are experiencing rapid growth and need to be better served with public transport.

The 95 bus route links Pegasus, Woodend and Ravenswood residents with Kaiapoi and Christchurch.

But Powell said instead of persevering with the 97 route, the board has consistently advocated for a circular route, similar to the Orbiter bus service in Christchurch.

It could link Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood with Rangiora and Kaiapoi and their suburbs and travel in both directions, she said.

‘‘From a practical point of view the idea of a circular route using two buses is much more useful to a much higher number of residents and lets them travel easily to where they want to go,’’ Powell said.

‘‘For now, Silverstream and Sovereign Palm residents in Kaiapoi have to travel to central Kaiapoi first if they want to use public transport to get to Rangiora.’’

The service could be extended to include Waikuku, Cust, Tuahiwi, Amberley and the beach settlements, and it could be similar to the on-call MyWay bus service in Timaru.

The board would also like to see the park and ride direct commuter service available to Rangiora and Kaiapoi residents extended to Woodend.

ECan public transport strategy and planning manager Sonia Pollard said the Pegasus to Rangiora service is not under review at present.

‘‘But NZTA (NZ Transport Agency) has requested we investigate low performing routes, so it is likely this route will be reviewed in the future.’’

A Waimakariri circular route is not under consideration as the partner councils have agreed to focus on developing a Greater Christchurch public transport futures strategy, she said.

Additional funding would be required from NZTA and local ratepayers and there is also limited funding for public transport in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Fund.

But staff will be assessing new routes as part of the 2025-26 annual plan, she said.

The next on-demand service trial is likely to be within the Greater Christchurch urban zone, but no decisions have been made.

ECan received nearly 800 submissions in its draft Canterbury Regional Public Transport Plan consultation.

Hearings begin next week, with deliberations scheduled for next month.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.