Successful Meeting on Bus Problems

The team from Churton Park Community Centre

A public meeting of about 100 people, held on 13 September, had been organised by the Churton Park Community Association (CPCA) in conjunction with list MP Brett Hudson. Its purpose was to give residents an opportunity to express their concerns to the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) about the new bus network.

All five councilors for the GWRC Wellington constituency attended, joined by all three Councillors for the WCC northern ward and the two local MPs – Greg O’Connor and Brett Hudson.

After greetings from Brett Hudson and Greg O’Connor, the GWRC Council Chair Chris Laidlaw spoke of the Council’s regret about impacts of the roll-out of the new region-wide system, and the Council’s determination to get things right.

Members of the audience were given the opportunity to describe the problems they have encountered and how they would like them fixed. Recurring issues were:

• buses not adhering to the timetable (arriving early, running late or not showing up at all);

• the need to resume both very early and late services. Earlier buses are needed in the morning for people such as nurses who need to get to work for 7 o’clock shifts;

• services stopping in the early evening (especially the route 19 loop service) have impacted on the ability to work late or have a social life. Commuters now have to walk long distances in poor lighting and often inclement weather. This was regarded as unacceptable and a personal safety issue.

• overcrowding of buses into and out of the city, caused by buses being too small, or having to accommodate passengers from buses that have not turned up. When returning from the city, this problem is made worse when the bus is filled with passengers taking a short trip to the railway station.

• problems with buses disappearing from the information boards, not being listed or not arriving,

• significant problems with school buses (overcrowding and reduction of cross-city services) and poor connections available to university students.

Clr Daran Ponter explained some measures being taken to correct the situation. These include the revamping of timetables by mid-October; the right-sizing of buses to cater for varying passenger numbers throughout the day; measures to stop “bunching” of buses through the CBD, the hiring of expertise from overseas to fix the Real Time Information Board issues, and better driver training. He indicated that measures will soon be taken to penalise the companies providing the service when they do not comply with GWRC requirements.

Clr Roger Blakeley (GWRC) acknowledged the validity of points made by speakers and unreservedly apologised. He said that GWRC will do everything it can to remedy the situation as fast as possible and noted that the full-time placing of GWRC’s CEO on the issue showed the Council’s intent.

The councilors expressed their appreciation of the clear and courteous manner in which residents had put their concerns. CPCA is sure this reflects the ethos of Churton Park and the way the suburb conducts itself.

The CPCA will continue to work with the GWRC to work through the issues as they affect Churton park commuters.

Photo accredited to Councillor Malcolm Sparrow.