Subject to the response from interested parties, an airport service should be up and running by July 1 next year, Gallagher said. “Our preference would be, when we introduce this service, that we have the confidence and assurance it s going to be frequent and punctual,” he said. “We’re also wanting to see that the service is a fully electric vehicle from the start.” The bus would run between the airport and the Wellington railway station, but tie in with the rest of the network to ensure connectivity from all corners of the region, he said. However, the push failed to sway regional councillors, whom oversee Metlink, the vast majority of whom voted against it at a meeting on April 22.
The hearing, which began on Wednesday, is presided over by three panellists; lawyer Helen Atkins, planner David McMahon, and engineering consultant Ray O’Callaghan. Clark also faced questions from the panellists about the airport bus, a transport option sorely missed since the Airport Flyer was suspended in April 2020. Covid-19 restrictions caused a drop in demand, and it was “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Clarke said.
Kate Green/Stuff
The arguments of Wellington Airport lawyers and experts, left, and city council, right, are heard by an independent panel, far end of the room from left, David McMahon, Helen Atkins and Ray O’Callaghan.
getwellymoving.co.nz
A mass public transport system is due to be constructed between Wellington Railway Station and the airport as part of the $6.4 billion Let s Get Wellington Moving programme.
The decision not to extend a new Wellington Airport bus service to Lower Hutt has been described by proponents as “a slap in the face” to ratepayers. Wellington has been without a direct bus route to the airport since the Airport Flyer service stopped operating in November. It had been running, through Wellington city and onto Lower Hutt, for 20 years but was axed by the Airport and NZ Bus after it was found to be too costly.
OPINION:
Kia ora, and welcome to Wellington Airport. You arrive home on Sunday afternoon, pick up your baggage, dispose of your mask and venture outside. You go to call an Uber. Wait a minute, you have to go to the special pick-up place and wait. And last time it wasn’t much cheaper than a cab. Instead, you decide to splash out on a taxi. Wait a minute, look at the queue! Funny how when you’re trying to find a park in town, cabs are everywhere, but when you arrive at the airport on a busy Sunday afternoon … Then you have the bright idea of getting the airport bus. Wait a minute, there is no airport bus any more! And even when you did catch it, you always felt a little ripped off compared to the superior airport bus you caught in Auckland.