Wasn't it great to see the smiling faces of our three local MPs after the announcement of the $520 million upgrade of State Highway 2 from Tauranga to Waihi.

However, I did not see any smiling faces from Omokoroa residents who can only look forward to at least another 10 years of worsening traffic problems.

The MPs are however concentrating on getting re-elected next year and of course our local body elections are due in October.

So I would suggest that Omokoroa gets proactive.

Conduct a survey of not only Omokoroa but also Te Puna, Minden, Pahoia, Apata, Whakamarama and Plummers Point, requesting details of residents travel to Tauranga and ask if there was a train service to Tauranga mornings and return in the evenings, say 3-2 carriage trains at half hour intervals picking up at Apata, Omokoroa, Borrell Rd, would they use it?

And if there was a ferry to the Mount, would they use it? Depending on the results of the survey, set up a meeting with Kiwi Rail and the ferry owner, regional council etc. Kiwi Rail has recently replaced their rolling stock in Auckland.

I would suggest there should be six of the retired carriages worth refurbishing and platforms would need to be built.

Most modern cities have commuter rail services, why not Tauranga?

I note the Bethlehem School bus quite often arrives after the morning assembly has finished.

This will only get worse with the additional building in the district.

P Turner, Omokoroa.