Invercargill residents were concerned about bus stops being built outside their homes, city councillors were told yesterday.

Invercargill City Council senior traffic management officer Eddie Cook told councillors at a community services committee that several residents had contacted him about where bus stops for the new upgrade would be placed.

The bus service is being upgraded as part of the new five-year contract awarded to current contractor Invercargill Passenger Transport (IPT).

Mr Cook said 120 letters had earlier been sent to advise residents that either a bus stop or shelters would be outside their home.

Residents were worried they would lose car parking spaces outside their homes if the bus stops were built.

Mr Cook said the parking spaces would not be lost.

"Buses would stop on vehicle accessways such as a driveway and not would affect parking", he said.

The new Invercargill urban bus service was expected to start on December 3.

Mr Cook said good progress was being made on planning for the new service.

"The new, easy-to-understand timetable is almost complete. It's a big improvement to the existing timetable."

Onboard bus initiatives such as audio announcement systems and LCD screens would be discussed with the council in a fortnight, he said.

A supply contract for bus shelters would be put out for tender soon and a marketing plan was under way, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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