New bus stop speeds up journey

A new bus stop being built in Chartwell will cut the journey times for some BUSIT! passengers on four services stopping in Lynden Court.

Waikato Regional Council has been working in partnership with Hamilton City Council on the plan to build the bus stop outside the library, enabling buses to travel in both directions along Lynden Court.

It means the Orbiter, Flagstaff, Rototuna and Rototuna Direct routes will no longer have to do a loop along Comries and Hukanui Roads to drop off and pick up passengers in Lynden Court, potentially shaving time from the journey and improving reliability.

Regional council group transport manager Vaughan Payne said: “The Lynden Court bus stop is Hamilton’s second busiest behind the transport centre in Bryce Street with 389 daily trips, and there will be some inconvenience for bus users initially.

“But once the bus stop is built, people will get to where they want to go faster because services will no longer have to do the loop via Comries and Hukanui Roads.

“The new stop will also result in less crowding under the existing two shelters – instead passengers will be more evenly spread out across the three,” he said.

Preparations began last week for work to build the new bus stop. Initially, the seven bus services which stop in Lynden Court will be unaffected by the works.

However, the road is expected to be closed to buses only for up to a month from late October while work is carried out on the eastern side of the road.

During this time buses will be diverted, stopping on both sides of Hukanui Road outside Westfield Chartwell. To help people cross the road safely, a temporary pedestrian refuge will be erected in the middle of the road.

The bus diversion will affect the Flagstaff, Chartwell, Claudelands, Rototuna, Northerner, Orbiter and Rototuna Direct services.

Passengers will be kept updated on changes to services through posters on buses, signs at the existing Lynden Court bus shelters, and the BUSIT! website. Passengers can also call 0800 4 BUSLINE (0800 4 2875 463).

Keep up-to-date with the latest news on the Lynden Court upgrades and effect on services by visiting www.busit.co.nz or www.facebook.com/busitwaikato.