A big shout-out to our bus drivers

I want to give a big shout-out to our bus drivers. We are lucky to have amazing drivers for the Southlink that connects coastal communities on SH45 from Ōpunake to New Plymouth, and the Connector linking Hāwera with New Plymouth on SH3. From my personal observation as a regular public transport user and looking at the Taranaki Regional Council reports, passenger numbers have grown significantly over recent years which has led to increased services - because many of us have been asking for a better public transport system for a long time. There is still a lot to do in this space. Evening and weekend services are still missing so there is room to expand. Given the obvious benefits that public transport brings to the region - such as lower emissions, reducing congestion, enhancing community connections, particularly for the elderly, youth and those who are financially struggling - it is important that we have councillors who value, understand and prioritise public transport. And tell our drivers they are awesome!
To find out more about public transport options in Taranaki, head to the TRC website for information on routes and timetables: https://www.trc.govt.nz/buses-transport/routes