Hamilton City Council marked the completion of the Rotokauri Transport Hub with a blessing of the new facility and unveiling of a new link road named Kiriwai Drive. The Rotokauri Transport Hub will be a major connection point for buses, as well as providing a rail station for the Waikato to Auckland passenger rail service Te Huia.
Councillorr Ewan Wilson, the council’s representative on the rail governance working group, said the hub is a great example of how a growing city and region are catering for all modes of transport.
“It’s a much-needed and significant facility for the city of Hamilton. As well as being a significant bus facility, it marks a transformational step in future-proofing Hamilton’s role in rail between Hamilton and New Zealand’s largest economic centre, Auckland.
“The hub is one of our biggest investments in public transport infrastructure in the city in recent years and as we continue to evolve as a major metropolitan centre council has made it a priority to give people safer and more reliable transport choices.”
As part of the project, Council worked closely with mana whenua to name Kiriwai Drive, which is named after a tuupuna (ancestor) who resided in the area, as well as the design, colours of the hub and pedestrian bridge which safely connects The Base with the new hub. The $29 million project to develop the hub includes $18.5 million from central government through Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency subsidies.
The new hub provides a bus interchange, a rail platform, a park and ride facility for rail passengers and includes mobility spaces, drop off and pick up zones and taxi stand.
