Bus users are enjoying easier access to southern parts of Tauranga’s city centre after the opening of six new bus stops bays this morning.

The new stops, in southern Durham St, offer shorter walking distances to key areas such as Elizabeth St and the lower avenues.

They are replacing temporary bus stops one block to the north, also in Durham Street. These will be removed by the end of next month.

Tauranga City Council city centre infrastructure lead Shawn Geard said the new bus stops were part of a strategy to reduce walking times for people wanting to use public transport.

“We want to give people more choice when travelling to and from our city centre,” he said.

“Research shows that people are more likely to choose buses if they are within easy walking distance of their destination.

“These new stops are close to a wide range of retail and hospitality businesses in the southern city centre, as well as the University of Waikato,” Geard said.

Te Papa ward councillor Rod Taylor said a lot of hard work went into creating the new bus stops for commuters and visitors to our city centre.

“Making it easier for people to come into town helps to spur growth and make our city centre more appealing,” Ward said.

The new bus stops are notable for their low-impact shelters, which are specially designed for the narrow street. They provide weather protection alongside easy access to shops and businesses.

The new stops join eight other bus stops spread throughout the city centre – in Harington and Hamilton Sts, Dive Cres and near Baycourt.

Collectively, they provide public transport within a few minutes’ walk of most parts of the city centre.

This year, Tauranga City Council will move the Intercity bus stop from its Dive Cres site to Elizabeth St so it’s closer to the new bus stops and people can transfer between services more easily.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council runs the city’s bus network, while Tauranga City Council owns infrastructure such as bus stops, bus shelters, bench seats and bus lanes.

The two councils work together to co-ordinate this system.

The new bus stops join many other initiatives aimed at making Tauranga’s city centre a great place to live, learn, work and play.

You can find out more about:

– the new bus stops at letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/citycentrebus

– Baybus route changes at baybus.co.nz/cbdchanges

– the Tauranga city centre transformation in the City Centre Action and Investment Plan 2022-32.