Buses for Balloons over Waikato and ITM400 Hamilton

Environment Waikato is again operating special bus services for people attending the Balloons over Waikato Nightglow event at Waikato University this Saturday 2 April and the ITM400 Hamilton from 15-17 April.

There will be five Park and Ride areas for the Balloons event. People will be able to park their cars at these sites and bus to and from the event for free. The five areas are:

• on route parking near Hamilton’s transport centre for the City Shuttle
• Frankton Primary School
• Grosvenor Park (Thomas Rd)
• Melville High School
• on route parking in River Rd for the River Shuttle .

The former Park and Ride operation based at Wintec (Avalon) is not operating this year due to roadworks. The River Shuttle will service all stops on the former WINTEC route with the exception of WINTEC itself.

The Park and Ride operation is designed to prevent major traffic congestion and parking problems around the university itself. Buses will run from the Park and Ride sites between 3.45pm and 6.30pm. Return buses will run until demand ceases.

Normal Saturday bus services will also run on the day of the event.

Meanwhile, during the ITM400 Hamilton event, all Hamilton buses will be provided for free by event organisers from Friday 15 April through to Sunday 17 April.

Extra buses will run during peak hours.

Due to concerts at Seddon Park on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April, the Nightrider service will depart from the Transport Centre between 9.30pm and 10.30pm

EW’s transport group manager Vaughan Payne said the council was pleased to again be supporting the Balloons and the ITM400 Hamilton with bus services. “The buses have proved their worth in past years when it comes to making these events successful by reducing congestion and the overall carbon footprint of the events. We have worked closely with the organisers to make sure arrangements this year will run smoothly again.”

More details on the Balloons Over Waikato Park and Ride services are available from www.busit.co.nz or 0800 4BUSLINE. ITM400 Hamilton bus service information will be available soon.

On the web: www.facebook.com/busitwaikato