Draft 2022-2032 Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP)

An ambitious plan for public transport | He ara whai hua mō te waka pāpori

In July 2022, we consulted with the public on our draft 2022-2032 Waikato Regional Public Transport Plan, were we set out the priorities and needs of public transport services and infrastructure to be delivered in the Waikato over a 10-year period.

Some of our proposals and intended outcomes were:

• connecting every urban area to its nearest regional centre with at least a daily return public bus service
• enabling shared transport solutions within every urban area – this could be by way of supporting community transport initiatives or providing public bus services
• reducing emissions from public transport services, with a target to be net neutral from 2024 – earlier than the Government’s recently released emissions reduction plan – and net negative from 2027 onwards
• a future network for Hamilton and surrounding areas that enables growth to increasingly concentrate around frequent public transport corridors, enabling fast and convenient car free access throughout the city and wider metropolitan area
• continuous improvement for Te Huia.

The opportunity to provide feedback closed on Friday, 29 July 2022.

What we decided

n September 2022, Waikato regional councillors signed off on a new 10-year plan for public transport in the rohe (region), after feedback through 209 submissions was taken into account.

As well as growing patronage in the urban areas and servicing more rural communities, the plan aims for public transport services to become at least carbon neutral for the period 2025 to 2050.

While avoiding emissions in the first place is the highest priority, if offsetting emissions is viable, the regional council will use direct offsetting methods within the region that generate additional benefits such as enhancing biodiversity.