FAQs

Towns that aren’t already serviced by public transport are not in scope for this consultation. This review needs to be done within the existing funding package and at this time we don't have any extra budget for new services – we are looking at how we can reallocate existing resources.

We are aware that the new Northern Arterial motorway may offer opportunities for more efficient non-stop bus services from the Waimakariri district to central Christchurch. These opportunities are currently being considered by the relevant partners (NZ Transport Agency, Environment Canterbury and local councils).

Even when the lane opens its unlikely that the existing services (Blue Line & 95) will change as they provide important connections to key parts of Christchurch like Belfast, Northwood, Northlands and Merivale for people from Waimakariri.

Any new non-stop bus options in the future would complement the services set out in this proposal.

School bus services that go from the Waimakariri district to schools in Christchurch are not being reviewed as a part of this service review. These routes are looked at annually, and revised if needed based upon their current usage, as well as school operating times. Any change to these routes happens at the beginning of each school year.

Bus services provided to Kaiapoi and Rangiora schools from the surrounding rural areas are coordinated and funded by the Ministry of Education in consultation with the schools and are therefore not reviewed by Environment Canterbury.

Increasing the frequency of our core routes is part of the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP), adopted at the end of 2018. The actions in the RPTP will be implemented over a 10-year time frame. One of the first actions we are undertaking is to review the existing bus services in Waimakariri. Frequency improvements to core routes across the whole public transport network will be implemented in a staged approach, with timings and order still to be confirmed.