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Devonport AT Local and bus service changes Devonport AT Local and bus service changes

Auckland Transport (AT) proposed two options for the future of the 806 and 807 bus services and AT Local on the lower Devonport Peninsula.

Project status: Implementation - last updated 15 February 2021.
Project zone: North

Public consultation took place from 28 September until 18 October 2020. 704 feedback surveys were received, along with a letter from 35 residents of the William Sanders Retirement Village. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who provided feedback. All of the comments have been carefully considered.

Having taken all feedback and other practical considerations into account, we have decided to proceed with the implementation of Option A:

  • Keep the 806 and 807 bus services with improvements; and
  • Stop running AT Local on the Devonport Peninsula.

Your feedback was given a great deal of consideration and a result, we’ve redesigned the local bus network to better meet the transport needs of the community as a whole. 

Map of the new Devonport bus route changes.

Download a high resolution version of the new bus network (PDF 2.6MB).

Download the consultation summary and decisions report (PDF 1.6MB)

New bus service - the 805

The 805 will connect the Belmont shops, Ngataringa Road, Lake Road and the Devonport Ferry Terminal.

The service will run Monday to Friday only.

Buses will run every hour:

  • from Devonport towards Belmont from 9:15am until 3:15pm
  • from Belmont towards Devonport from 9:55am until 3:55pm

Improvements to the 806 bus service

The 806 between Stanley Point and the Devonport Ferry Terminal will have longer running hours and will meet every Devonport ferry at peak times.

The 806 will run:

  • Monday to Thursday: 6:40am to 8:55pm
  • Friday: 6:40am to 9:55pm
  • Weekends and public holidays: 6:40am to 8:55pm
  • Every 20 minutes at peak times
  • Every 30 minutes at off-peak times.

Improvements to the 807 bus service

The 807 between Cheltenham and the Devonport Ferry Terminal will have longer running hours and will meet every Devonport ferry at peak times.

The 807 will run:

  • Monday to Thursday: 6:45am to 9:15pm
  • Friday: 6:45am to 9:45pm
  • Weekends and public holidays: 7am to 8:45pm
  • Every 20 minutes at peak times
  • Every 30 minutes at off-peak times

What’s happening to AT Local

The AT Local trial on the Devonport Peninsula ends on Friday 26 February 2021. AT’s On-demand and Shared Mobility Roadmap sets out AT’s approach to shaping Auckland’s future transport network by expanding access to on-demand and shared travel options. The roadmap identified three categories for potential solutions; to complement, supplement or replace existing public transport services. Due to the current financial constraints that AT faces, the next stage of work will focus on replacing poor performing bus routes with on-demand solutions that can potentially grow patronage.

The next locations being explored are Papakura and Pukekohe where AT Local will replace some of the under-performing / high subsidy bus services in the area to provide better access around the train stations. The first trial in Devonport has provided valuable insights into how on-demand could work in Auckland and improvements for subsequent trials, such as integration with AT HOP and AT’s online Journey Planner.

Next steps

  • Thursday 4 February 2021 - The Consultation Summary and Decisions Report will be available for download from this webpage
  • Sunday 21 February - AT’s Journey Planner and AT Mobile will be updated so travellers can plan their journeys using the new bus service and timetables
  • Friday 26 February - The AT Local trial on the Devonport Peninsula will end. AT Local will not run on the Peninsula after this date
  • Sunday 28 February - The 806 and 807 bus services will start running to new timetables
  • Monday 1 March
    • The 806 and 807 bus services will start running to new weekday timetables
    • The 805 bus service will start running
  • Sunday 25 April – the 806 and 807 bus services will start running to new weekend timetables

Public information sessions

If you have any questions or need help with the new and improved bus services, come see us at the Devonport Library on the following days:

  • Saturday 20 February 2021, 10am – 2pm
  • Tuesday 23 February 2021, 1pm – 4pm

*These events will not take place if Auckland is in COVID-19 Alert Level 2 or higher.

Why we’re implementing Option A

  • Public consultation did not show the Devonport Peninsula community had a clear preference.
  • Option A can better address issues with the public transport network identified by consultation respondents - specific areas of the Peninsula are not currently served by buses and bus-ferry connections at Devonport need improvement.
  • Option A gives former Stanley Bay ferry users the best possible connection with the Devonport ferry.
  • Option A is easier for everyone to understand, with bus services running all day, seven days a week.
  • Option A has more capacity for growth in the number of people wanting to travel by public transport.
  • Option A is expected to require a lower per passenger subsidy.
  • AT cannot implement the Option B that some consultation respondents asked for. (For example, it isn’t possible to significantly enlarge the AT Local operating area or run the service at peak times, as this would be a duplication of local bus services and therefore an inefficient use of ratepayers’ money).

Project overview

AT is proposing two options for the future of the 806 and 807 bus services and AT Local on the lower Devonport Peninsula.

  • Option A - Improvements to the 806 and 807 bus services, and discontinue AT Local on the Devonport Peninsula.
  • Option B - 806 and 807 bus services operate at peak commuting times on weekdays only and a revised AT Local service operating at off-peak times, weekends and public holidays only, with a smaller operating area.

If Option B was implemented, we would make significant changes to AT Local fares and payment methods to bring these aspects of this service into line with AT Metro bus services.

Benefits

Implementation of either option described would reduce duplication of services and therefore be a more efficient use of ratepayers' money, while still providing good public transport options on the Devonport Peninsula.

Timeline

  • 28 September 2020 - Public feedback opens.
  • 18 October 2020 - Public feedback closed.
  • Early 2021:
    • Consultation summary and decisions report will be available.
    • Changes to local bus services and AT Local will be implemented.

Project details

The AT Local trial which has been operating since November 2018 is coming to an end. It is not possible to continue operating AT Local and local bus services as they are. Their operating hours and the areas they serve are too similar. This duplication is not an efficient use of ratepayers' money. AT is now seeking your feedback on two options for the future of public transport on the Devonport Peninsula.

It will be necessary to keep the 806 and 807 bus services for at least peak commuting times. Through the trial, we know that AT Local would not be able to meet demand for travel to and from the Devonport Ferry Terminal at peak commuting times on its own without significant investment in additional vehicles and drivers. The extra vehicles and drivers would then sit idle at the times when fewer people wanted to travel.

While reviewing the two options, please keep in mind that the Stanley Bay ferry service will no longer operate from the 2020 Christmas break. Find out more about the 2020/2021 bus and ferry changes and improvements.

Option A -  Improvements to the 806 and 807 bus services and discontinue AT Local on the Devonport Peninsula

Bus operating hours and frequency

The 806 and 807 bus services would have longer operating hours than at present.

These bus services would operate:

  • Monday to Thursday from 7am to 9:20pm
  • Friday from 7am to 10pm
  • Saturday, Sunday and public holiday from 7am to 9pm.

Bus services would operate every 20 to 30 minutes.

We would use two buses to operate the 806 and 807 service. This would allow us to provide better connections with the Devonport ferry service. We currently use the same bus to operate both services, and therefore only connect with some ferries.

Bus routes map for Option A

Download the map of bus services for Option A (PDF 262KB).

As part of your feedback, you may like to suggest the 806 and 807 have different operating hours, routes or frequencies from those described above.

Option B - 806 and 807 bus services at peak times on weekdays only and a revised AT Local service

Bus operating hours and frequency

The 806 and 807 bus services would operate Monday to Friday from 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm.

Bus services would operate every 30 to 40 minutes.

We would continue to use a single bus vehicle to operate both the 806 and 807 to connect with alternate Devonport ferries.

AT Local operating hours, area and service

AT Local will operate at off-peak times on weekdays, and all day on weekends and public holidays.

  • Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm and 6pm to 9:20pm.
  • Friday from 9am to 4pm and 6pm to 10pm.
  • Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 7am to 9pm.

We would use two 7-seater vans (plus the driver) to operate the AT Local service which would have limited ability to accommodate one-off and longer term increases in the number of people wanting to travel.

It would not be within our public transport operating budget to use more than two vans on the Devonport Peninsula. This means we would have to reduce the size of the AT Local operating area from what it is today to ensure:

  • demand for the service can be met using two vans
  • and Stanley Bay and Cheltenham residents and visitors would have a reliable public transport option when the 806 and 807 bus services are not operating.

Areas that would no longer be within the AT Local operating area (e.g. Bayswater, Belmont and Narrow Neck) would still be served by the 801 and 814 bus services. The smaller AT Local operating area would reduce duplication with the 801 and 814 bus services resulting in a more efficient use of ratepayers' money.

You would be able to request AT Local for immediate travel, but if many people want to travel at the same time, your wait time may be longer, and the route the AT Local van takes may be less direct. You may have to share the AT Local van with up to six other people plus the driver, but everyone will get a seat.

The AT Local vans would only operate if someone booked a trip, but they may be empty on the way to pick someone up. Due to the limited number of seats, multiple trips would need to be made to transport a larger group of people.

Bus routes and AT Local operating area map for Option B

Download the map of bus services for Option B (PDF 269KB).

As part of your feedback, you may like to suggest the 806 and 807 have different operating hours, routes or frequencies from those described above, or that AT Local has different operating hours or a different operating area.

Fares

Regardless of whether Option A or Option B was implemented, there would be no changes to the 806 and 807 fares and payment method as part of this project. You would continue to pay your fare using your AT HOP card and the AT HOP card readers inside the bus.

If Option B was implemented, AT Local fares and payment method would be brought into line with AT bus services. You would pay your AT Local fare using your AT HOP card and an AT HOP card reader inside the AT Local van.

AT HOP concessions would be accepted on the 806, 807 and AT Local.

AT HOP fares for a single trip on the 806, 807 or AT Local
Adult $2
Children aged under 5 years Free
Children aged 5 to 15 years with a child concession

Monday to Friday - $1.10

Weekends and public holidays - Free
Secondary student concession $1.10
Tertiary student concession $1.55
Accessible concession $1.10
Senior and SuperGold concession

Free after 9am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

$2 at all other times.

AT HOP fares are subject to annual review.

Find out more about AT HOP fares and concessions.

AT bus, ferry and train fares are already integrated. If Option B were implemented, AT Local fares would also be integrated.

  • Your fare would be based on the number of fare zones in which you travel.
  • You could make as many bus, AT Local, ferry or train trips as you liked within four hours, and as long as there was no more than 30 minutes transfer time between trips, you would pay one fare for your entire journey – easier and cheaper than paying for each bus, AT Local, ferry, or train trip separately.
  • Any single-zone bus, AT Local or train trips that you took within 30 minutes before or after a ferry trip would be included in the ferry fare.

Example journey - Cheltenham to Newmarket

  • If Option A were implemented, you would take the 807 to the Devonport Ferry Terminal. If Option B were implemented, you would take the 807 or AT Local to the Devonport Ferry Terminal, depending on the time and day of the week.
  • Take the ferry to the Downtown Ferry Terminal
  • Short walk to Waitematā Station (Britomart)
  • Take the train to Newmarket Station

The adult AT HOP fare for this journey would be $5 (the Devonport ferry fare), as the cost of the 807 or AT Local and the train are included in the ferry fare as long as both transfers take less than 30 minutes each.

Find out more about integrated fares.

806 and 807 bus service features that will not change

Regardless of whether Option A or Option B was implemented, these key features of the existing 806 and 807 bus services would not change as part of this project:

  • Bus services would still operate to fixed routes and timetables regardless of demand. Wait times and journey times would generally be predictable.
  • Buses would still have space for at least 50 people per bus – plenty of space for peak time and longer term increases in the number of people wanting to travel.
  • You may still have to stand if many people want to travel at the same time.
  • Children under the age of 5 years would still need to be accompanied by a fare paying passenger.
  • You still would not be able to book space on buses ahead of time
  • Buses would still be wheelchair accessible and would be able to kneel to reduce the step between the kerb and the bus floor.

In February 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • an average of 75 people used the 806 bus service each weekday
  • and an average of 86 people used the 807 bus service each weekday.

See Timetables to download the current 806 and 807 bus timetable.

AT Local service features that will not change with Option B

If Option B was implemented, these key features of the existing AT Local service would not change:

  • You would still need to book AT Local (for immediate travel or up to 30 days in advance) using a smartphone app linked to a credit or debit card.
  • You would still request your pick up and drop off points when you make your booking, but a short walk (50m to 80m) may still be required to complete some trips.
  • Children under the age of 5 years would still need to be accompanied by a fare paying passenger, and you would still need to be aged 14 years or older to register for AT Local. This means children aged 5 to 13 years could travel on AT Local unaccompanied, but a registered user aged 14 years or older would still need to book their trip for them.
  • AT Local vans would still be wheelchair accessible.

In February 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, an average of 290 people used AT Local each weekday.

Find out more about the existing AT Local service.

Public engagement

AT was seeking your feedback on the two options for the future of the 806 and 807 bus services and AT Local on the Devonport Peninsula. Your local insights will help us make an informed decision regarding the future of these services.

Public feedback closed 18 October 2020.

Resources

Audio

For more information on this project

Contact Auckland Transport