New shelters complement bus service improvements

Dozens of new bus shelters will spring up all over Dunedin during the next few months under a partnership between the Otago Regional Council (ORC) and the Dunedin City Council.

ORC is funding the installation programme, which is being managed by DCC.

ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead said the councils were responding to the public need to provide more safety and comfort for people waiting at bus stops, especially leading into winter.

“We want to improve the opportunity for as many people as possible, including the young and the elderly, to feel they can get the bus without being unduly buffeted by the weather,” Cr Woodhead said.

The shelter installation programme coincides with the recent introduction of new and improved GoBus services on many city routes.

Cr Woodhead said ratepayers and residents could be assured that delivering a good standard of customer service across all facets of the bus network, over time, and within carefully calculated budget limits, was a priority for ORC.

This was reinforced by the results of bi-annual monitoring of contracted routes, which revealed: that 92 percent of services left on time; 96 percent arrived on time, 99.5 percent had correct destination signage, 100 percent of buses had acceptable or better standards of cleanliness; and drivers exhibited a high standard of behaviour.

“Whilst we are always striving for continuous improvement, these are excellent results. Given the huge number of bus services operating through Dunedin each week, the drivers can justifiably be proud, “” Cr Woodhead said.

For more information contact

Stephen Woodhead
Chairman
ORC
027 2801635