Following the principles of the Otago Regional Public Transport Plan 2014, many routes are becoming more direct, including in these areas. They’ll use main streets, with less route variations, so the new network is stable, simple to remember and easy to understand. Some deviations into smaller streets will disappear and routes will be the same seven days a week.

For some, this may result in a slightly longer walk to your bus stop but, combined with more frequent services, this will mean most people are able to get to where they’re going faster.

Maori Hill and Roslyn

With the new Ridge Runner (route 15) coming into service, the current route 66/67 (Roslyn/Maori Hill) will no longer operate. As well as the Ridge Runner, several other services run via Roslyn; new routes servicing Helensburgh and Wakari (see below) may also be relevant to Maori Hill residents.

• Ridge Runner will travel along Highgate via the Roslyn shops, down Warrender St, onto George St to the Gardens, then the campus. Frequency: every 30 minutes both directions at peak times, hourly off-peak.
• Ridge Runner will open up direct access from Roslyn/Maori Hill to the Campus, Gardens, Mornington, Belleknowes, the Glen and South Dunedin.
• Several other routes run via Roslyn, and two new routes will service Helensburgh/Wakari.
  
  

Helensburgh and Wakari

These areas are currently serviced by route 50/51 (Helensburgh/University). Route 50/51 is currently quite circuitous, taking close to 30 minutes to travel from Helensburgh to the city. This route will be replaced by two much more direct routes – route 50 and route 33.

• Route 50 St Clair Park - Helensburgh follows Pitt St, Drivers Rd and Lynn St, ending in Helensburgh Rd
• Route 33 Corstorphine – Wakari follows Stuart St and Shetland St, ending in Tuckett St
• Both run every 30 minutes on weekdays until 7pm, when frequency changes to hourly
• Hourly weekend services and more later evening services on Saturdays on both routes 50 and 33.
  
  

You can expect a new bus timetable booklet in your mailbox in early September. Look for this column in your Star every week as the Otago Regional Council works towards improvements to your bus services.