Aucklanders might be facing their most difficult March Madness yet on city roads as a bus driver shortage and reduced public transport services appear to be leading more people to jump into cars.
Auckland Transport says it is currently 393 bus drivers short, heading into what is typically one of the busiest traffic weeks in the year, as school and university students head back to class and workers return from summer breaks.
Driver shortages meant Auckland Transport was now running about 85 per cent of normal bus services. Up to 5 per cent were suspended and up to 10 per cent cancelled daily, affecting around 1000 bus trips each weekday.
Commuters looking to switch to the train network aren’t having it any easier. KiwiRail is completing major work on its Southern, Eastern and Western lines.
This is being further exaggerated by interruptions to school bus routes and road closures caused by recent storms.
Martin Glynn, the policy director of motoring affairs at the AA, said March Madness had hit early.
“It’s probably partly driven by the public transport crisis and reduced services,” he said.
