GDC looking at reset of city bus network

Gisborne’s bus network could be set for a shake-up amid declining passenger numbers and plummeting income from fares.

Gisborne District Council provides public transport to the city through three services — an urban network, school network and subsidised taxi service for people with disabilities.

But with the contract coming up for renewal in mid-2025, the council is now looking to reset the network.

Beginning in 2014, the current contract with GoBus has seen a steady decline in patronage from 157,000 people a year in 2012/13 to 123,000 in 2022/23.

Income from fares for that period has also dipped from $196,000 to $68,000, due in part to Government-subsidised discounts from 2022 onwards.

As part of its review, the council hopes to address the trend in declining passengers and look at options for funding more services.

There are also murmurs of a route to areas further up the East Coast as part of a “connector trial bus service”.

At Thursday’s regional transport committee meeting, councillor Teddy Thompson asked if the dip in fare revenue was a national trend.

Waka Kotahi regional manager design central North Island Sarah Downes said services were slowly getting back to normal levels after taking a hit due to Covid.

Ms Downes said because of the rural nature of the region, most people had got used to using their cars.

“For people to use public transport, you need regular services.”

Councillor Rob Telfer said the irregularity of buses was affecting the network’s ability to pay its way, while Ani Pahuru-Huriwai said better public transport would be beneficial to the coast which paid 30c per litre more than town for petrol.

According to the council report prepared for Thursday’s meeting, consultants had identified several problems with the design of the network.

They included long one-way loops which resulted in long journey times for short distances, no buses at the weekend or public holidays, low bus frequency when the service was operating, and poor service to key areas of the city such as Wainui, Awapuni, Kiwa Pools and the airport.

Areas identified for possible investment include a new bus hub at Kaiti Mall, relocating the current hub on Bright St to Gladstone Rd and upgrading bus stops across the network.

The 2023/24 budget for the Gisborne bus service is $820,000, with the majority of current passengers identified as being children.