Pictured, from left, is Waitomo district deputy mayor Allan Goddard, Waikato regional councillor Angela Strange, Ōtorohanga deputy mayor Annette Williams, Waikato regional councillor Stu Kneebone, Waitomo district mayor John Robertson and Ōtorohanga district councillor Steve Hughes.
Organisers hope a day aimed at boosting awareness of the regional Te Kuiti Connector bus service will encourage more commuters to catch it.
The service, launched in February, travels between Te Kuiti and Hamilton stopping in Ōtorohanga, Kihikihi, Te Awamutu, Ōhaupō and at the Hamilton Transport Centre.
The service has attracted 1000 passengers and an information day aiming to increase those numbers was held at Te Kuiti i-Site last Thursday.
Ōtorohanga deputy mayor Annette Williams was among those who attended, and she told The News on Tuesday that while the numbers were a great start, she hopes use of the bus won’t stop there.
“There’s certainly more scope for commuters to catch it, it’s simply a matter of people being aware it’s here, and that’s what days like last Thursday are for.”
Though unable to attend the day in Te Kuiti, Pirongia-Kakepuku ward councillor Clare St Pierre – who sits on Waikato Regional Council’s regional transport committee – agreed with Williams.
“I was really happy to hear of those numbers,” she told The News of the reported patronage.
St Pierre has also previously said she’s keen to see connectivity – the overall number of buses – increase.
The Te Kūiti Connector and Tokoroa Connector are the two newest public transport initiatives to be rolled out in the region.
They are operated by Waikato Regional Council in partnership with Waitomo District Council, Ōtorohanga District Council, Waipā District Council and South Waikato District Council, as well as tertiary providers The University of Waikato and Wintec.
