Latest news with #eBus
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Next Stop Nelson Bus Hub – Work At Millers Acre To Start
Press Release – Nelson City Council This new central city transport hub is about bringing together on one site the eBus, InterCity and other bus services such as those to our National Parks, says Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. Work to transform Millers Acre into the transport hub for Nelson in time for summer is due to start in July. The development of the site, estimated to cost $2.8 million, will once completed, be the hub for all Nelson bus services including the InterCity, school bus, tourism and eBus services. 'This new central city transport hub is about bringing together on one site the eBus, InterCity and other bus services such as those to our National Parks,' says Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. 'This integration helps grow usage by enabling convenient connections between services and makes public transport easier to find for visitors. 'The shift from the Bridge Street eBus depot to this new Nelson Bus Hub is needed to accommodate the growth in services and because of the upcoming disruption and changes from the Bridge to Better project. This new hub will have six bus bays, compared with four at the current Bridge Street depot. Council intends to sell the old site for development as part of its city revitalisation plans flowing from an expressions of interest process last year.' Group Infrastructure Manager Alec Louverdis says this exciting project will include not only its very successful ebus service, but also wider services. 'The development of the site will allow for Nelson Tasman's eBuses, tourism, regional and school buses, making it a one-stop-shop for Nelson's coachline services with a much-improved passenger experience.' The new hub will feature six bus bays, allowing multiple services to operate side-by-side. Passengers will have a large, comfortable waiting room, with improved air circulation that will assist in colder months. Improved indoor and outdoor CCTV monitoring, linked directly to the police monitoring system, will be installed. Automated announcements of departures will be broadcast via an audio system with speakers indoors and outdoors. Councillor Campbell Rollo, Chair of the Regional Accessibility Forum, is particularly proud of this new feature. 'The audio system is something that our forum really advocated for alongside some of Nelson's blind citizens. This will benefit not just those who are vision impaired but also our elderly community, parents busy with children and anyone nearby waiting for their bus,' says Campbell. The upgrades continue outdoors too with new digital displays for bus services and tourist information, increased lighting and outdoor timber seating. Canopies will be installed to ensure dry passage and shade from the waiting room to each bus. One standout feature of the Nelson Bus Hub will be a rain garden. 'Currently, rainwater from Millers Acre ends up in the Maitai River. A rain garden and a 'jellyfish' device will help protect the ecology of our river system,' says Alec. The rain garden will look like a standard garden, but with rocks and stones rather than bark. Underneath there will be a filter system that will remove contaminants, cleaning the water before it's discharged into the Maitai River. During larger weather events, a 'jellyfish' filter will clean the stormwater before discharged into the Maitai. 'Jellyfish is a great way to describe it,' says Alec. 'It's a filter with a number of tentacles that catch litter, debris, oils and even pollutants such as nitrogen and metals.' The surrounding landscape provided inspiration for the design of the Nelson Bus Hub. Both the outdoor paving and indoor flooring replicate the twists and turns of the Maitai River as it travels to the sea. New landscaping and wayfinding will tie the whole hub together ensuring passengers, whether they are using the InterCity or eBus service, know exactly where their bus will depart. Initial enabling works for this project included the construction of a new carpark at 41 Halifax Street to provide public parking spaces. The mural of the Kawau on the wall at 41 Halifax introduces a toi Māori element to the hub and will be visible to passengers waiting for their bus. Moving the hub from Bridge Street aligns with the larger city development project Bridge to Better. 'Not only does it remove the buses from Bridge Street, but it opens the potential for inner-city development.' says Alec. While contractors are working at Millers Acre all commercial services that use the site will be relocated. Pedestrian access to River Kitchen will be detoured along Trafalgar Street and the Maitai Walkway. The café will continue operating as usual. The toilet block at Millers Acre will be temporarily closed at times during construction. 'Before work begins, we are taking stock of operators who use the carpark,' says Alec. 'We've worked closely with Nelson Coachlines, school bus services and regional tourism services, but we want to ensure that we haven't missed anyone. If you're a commercial operator who uses Millers Acre, please get in contact with Customer Services at Council.'
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Next Stop Nelson Bus Hub – Work At Millers Acre To Start
Work to transform Millers Acre into the transport hub for Nelson in time for summer is due to start in July. The development of the site, estimated to cost $2.8 million, will once completed, be the hub for all Nelson bus services including the InterCity, school bus, tourism and eBus services. 'This new central city transport hub is about bringing together on one site the eBus, InterCity and other bus services such as those to our National Parks,' says Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. 'This integration helps grow usage by enabling convenient connections between services and makes public transport easier to find for visitors. 'The shift from the Bridge Street eBus depot to this new Nelson Bus Hub is needed to accommodate the growth in services and because of the upcoming disruption and changes from the Bridge to Better project. This new hub will have six bus bays, compared with four at the current Bridge Street depot. Council intends to sell the old site for development as part of its city revitalisation plans flowing from an expressions of interest process last year.' Group Infrastructure Manager Alec Louverdis says this exciting project will include not only its very successful ebus service, but also wider services. 'The development of the site will allow for Nelson Tasman's eBuses, tourism, regional and school buses, making it a one-stop-shop for Nelson's coachline services with a much-improved passenger experience.' The new hub will feature six bus bays, allowing multiple services to operate side-by-side. Passengers will have a large, comfortable waiting room, with improved air circulation that will assist in colder months. Improved indoor and outdoor CCTV monitoring, linked directly to the police monitoring system, will be installed. Automated announcements of departures will be broadcast via an audio system with speakers indoors and outdoors. Councillor Campbell Rollo, Chair of the Regional Accessibility Forum, is particularly proud of this new feature. 'The audio system is something that our forum really advocated for alongside some of Nelson's blind citizens. This will benefit not just those who are vision impaired but also our elderly community, parents busy with children and anyone nearby waiting for their bus,' says Campbell. The upgrades continue outdoors too with new digital displays for bus services and tourist information, increased lighting and outdoor timber seating. Canopies will be installed to ensure dry passage and shade from the waiting room to each bus. One standout feature of the Nelson Bus Hub will be a rain garden. "Currently, rainwater from Millers Acre ends up in the Maitai River. A rain garden and a 'jellyfish' device will help protect the ecology of our river system,' says Alec. The rain garden will look like a standard garden, but with rocks and stones rather than bark. Underneath there will be a filter system that will remove contaminants, cleaning the water before it's discharged into the Maitai River. During larger weather events, a 'jellyfish' filter will clean the stormwater before discharged into the Maitai. 'Jellyfish is a great way to describe it,' says Alec. 'It's a filter with a number of tentacles that catch litter, debris, oils and even pollutants such as nitrogen and metals.' The surrounding landscape provided inspiration for the design of the Nelson Bus Hub. Both the outdoor paving and indoor flooring replicate the twists and turns of the Maitai River as it travels to the sea. New landscaping and wayfinding will tie the whole hub together ensuring passengers, whether they are using the InterCity or eBus service, know exactly where their bus will depart. Initial enabling works for this project included the construction of a new carpark at 41 Halifax Street to provide public parking spaces. The mural of the Kawau on the wall at 41 Halifax introduces a toi Māori element to the hub and will be visible to passengers waiting for their bus. Moving the hub from Bridge Street aligns with the larger city development project Bridge to Better. 'Not only does it remove the buses from Bridge Street, but it opens the potential for inner-city development.' says Alec. While contractors are working at Millers Acre all commercial services that use the site will be relocated. Pedestrian access to River Kitchen will be detoured along Trafalgar Street and the Maitai Walkway. The café will continue operating as usual. The toilet block at Millers Acre will be temporarily closed at times during construction. 'Before work begins, we are taking stock of operators who use the carpark,' says Alec. 'We've worked closely with Nelson Coachlines, school bus services and regional tourism services, but we want to ensure that we haven't missed anyone. If you're a commercial operator who uses Millers Acre, please get in contact with Customer Services at Council.'
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
What's Driving Tasman's Draft 8.8% Rates Hike?
Ratepayers in Tasman face a proposed 8.8% rates hike from July despite a plan adopted less than 12 months ago signalling a rise of 7%. What's changed? Tasman District Council's long-term plan for the current decade was adopted in June 2024. That plan indicated a 7% rates increase but an overspend of $6.5 million is forecast for this financial year and so the council has been forced back to the drawing board. A raft of changes is proposed to the original outline for the upcoming 2025/26 financial year, resulting in an updated plan for the same year, now with an average 8.8% rates increase. The council blames rising costs for its overspend and the need for a greater average rates increase. It says interest rates, depreciation and maintenance costs, and the price of electricity are all higher than expected and is subsequently allocating more money to certain areas. Among many other smaller increases, next financial year the council wanted an extra $534k to reinstate water and wastewater maintenance to earlier levels to reflect actual spending, $392k for parks and reserves maintenance to account for managing new reserves and inflation, $357k for its IT fees and licences, $222k to bring its environmental compliance services in-house after its contractor exited the contract, and $242k for sewerage works, including upgrading capacity at the overflow-prone Beach Road pump station. Errors in its earlier plan have also resulted in proposals for allocating $104k for local government sector group subscriptions, $103k for the Māpua Ferry, and $80k for the eBus service due to a misunderstanding with NZTA funding. The decade's plan for new builds, upgrades, and renewal projects has also been shuffled around to result in an extra $7.3m spending in 2025/26, largely for the Motueka and Tākaka wastewater treatment plants, the Lower Queen Street bridge project, drinking water in Eighty-Eight Valley, and the Motueka Aquatic Centre. New Government rules also require the council pay $310k for its water and wastewater to be monitored by both the national water regulator Taumata Arowai and the Commerce Commission. Councillor Kit Maling thought the fees were 'bloody rubbish' when Audit NZ already audited the council's water services, and said the prospect of future fee increases were 'a real concern'. But budget increases aren't the only changes proposed for next year's plan and several areas could see reductions to keep rates from jumping even higher. Chief executive Leonie Rae said the council had scrutinised 'every line' of its budget to find ways to reduce spending without drastically impacting the current levels of service. 'We're really thinking about what was essential, and what we could actually let go of or potentially do better.' The council proposes selling $3 million of its unneeded Emissions Trading Scheme credits to partially offset its deficit, effectively shaving 0.5% off the rates increase. Other cuts include slashing the staff salary budget by $1.4m, using funding from a Government levy rather than rates for a $1m upgrade of the Richmond Resource Recovery Centre, selling an extra $1m of surplus council property, and reducing insurance coverage to save $700k. Efficiencies and optimisations are also being pursued in traffic management. Group manager community infrastructure Richard Kirby said while the number of cones might not drop, there would be likely fewer manned points during roadworks. The council has indicated it was likely to rescind an earlier original cost-cutting measure of removing bins and closing public toilets, but Kirby said a more targeted approach to managing those facilities would be taken. Bins that are underutilised or near others will be 'slowly removed' over time, while public toilets which don't get much use in winter, like those on Rabbit Island, would be closed during those months. Some other proposed measures to lessen the general rates increase would still be felt by some residents like introducing paid parking in off-road, all-day Richmond car parks, and shaving library opening hours. The council is also seeking to increase most of its fees and charges by 10% to ensure some council services remain user-pays rather than being subsidised by rates. Elected members grudgingly approved the proposals last week, with Mayor Tim King saying that none of them were 'hugely comfortable' with the 8.8% increase, as they tried to balance affordability with ensuring the council's levels of service continued to meet residents' expectations. But councillor Mark Greening, the only member to vote against the plan last week, railed against measures. He thought the council should drastically cut staff numbers to reduce staffing costs by up to $6m, significantly more than the $1.4m reduction already proposed. 'The public should be concerned,' he said. 'This annual plan is still tinkering around the edges and fails to address the fundamental problems.' The proposal is expected to go out for consultation on May 12 for two weeks.
Business Wire
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Fifth Third Employees Fight Food Insecurity and Support Communities on Annual 'Fifth Third Day'
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fifth Third Bank's (NASDAQ: FITB) nearly 19,000 employees will celebrate the annual 'Fifth Third Day' by volunteering and donating to fight food insecurity within their local communities across the Bank's 11-state footprint. 'On Fifth Third Day, we have the opportunity – and the great privilege – to step up and support our communities by donating our time and money so fewer Americans go hungry.' -Tim Spence, chairman, CEO and president of Fifth Third Share On May 2, celebrated as 'Fifth Third Day,' employees will unite to pack millions of meals, collect and donate food items, and support local hunger relief organizations. Fifth Third Day kicks off a month of volunteering activities across the Bank's 11-state footprint, with the theme of 'Tackling Food Insecurity One Community at a Time.' 'Food security continues to be a pressing issue affecting millions of Americans, and the price of food and basic necessities continues to increase,' said Tim Spence, chairman, CEO and president of Fifth Third. 'On Fifth Third Day, we have the opportunity – and the great privilege – to step up and support our communities by donating our time and money so fewer Americans go hungry.' Since 1991, Fifth Third has celebrated its employees, customers and communities on its signature day, May 3. Because the date falls on a weekend this year, service activities begin on May 2 and will continue throughout May in support of local hunger relief organizations. 'At Fifth Third, we prioritize taking care of our communities. That's why tackling food insecurity is so important to us – by fulfilling one of the basic needs that some families may have, we can help alleviate the stress of being concerned about where the next meal is going to come from,' said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third. Empowering local communities Fifth Third's Financial Empowerment Mobile, commonly known as the eBus, was reimagined and launched on Fifth Third Day in 2024, and is celebrating one year of providing increased access and impact by combining social and financial education services to community members in need. In partnership with SpringFour, the eBus connects community members to vital human and social services organizations to address needs related to food savings, rental resources, childcare, employment services, small business support and more. Through its digital self-service financial wellness solution, SpringFour delivers access to more than 24,000 nonprofit and government agencies across the U.S. providing support in 14 categories. In 2024, the eBus traveled 15,000 miles and made 76 stops to deliver financial access, education and social services to nearly 8,000 people across seven states – from hurricane-ravaged rural communities in the Carolinas, to community centers in Chicago and Detroit. For 2025, the eBus has embarked upon a nine-state tour that runs through November, with stops scheduled in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. The Midwest leg of the tour begins on Friday, May 2, with stops scheduled across Indiana, Ohio and Michigan in the coming months. Supporting the next generation Additionally, Fifth Third will surprise the families of babies born on Fifth Third Day in select local hospitals in Detroit and southwest Florida with a gift of $1,053 to open a 529 college savings account. Since 2017, Fifth Third Babies has delivered nearly $650,000 in 529 plan funding to the families of 615 babies born on Fifth Third Day across 9 states, in partnership with the Gift of College. The Bank will also present the new parents with care packages that include gift cards and gifts for the baby such as a onesie, bib, blanket and book. From May 3 through 29, the general public also has the opportunity to participate in a social media sweepstakes to win one of 53 $1,053 Gift of College cards to be redeemed through state 529 college savings plans and a Fifth Third Babies bag. Winners will be selected on 529 Day, or May 29 on the calendar. More information and full sweepstakes rules are available online at 1 For more information about how Fifth Third is helping its communities, please visit here. 1 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the U.S., excluding New York. At least 18 years old to enter. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes begins May 3, 2025, at 12:00 AM EST and ends May 29, 2025, at 8:00 AM EST. For complete sweepstakes rules visit Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Meta Platforms, Inc. About Fifth Third Fifth Third is a bank that's as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we've been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it's one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies ® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation's highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust. Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ ® Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Investor information and press releases can be viewed at Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.
Associated Press
28-03-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Future-Proofing EV Charging Infrastructure: Verdek Completes Installation in Austin, TX
MONROE, Conn., March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Verdek LLC proudly announces the successful and on-time completion of a state-of-the-art EV charging infrastructure project in Austin, Texas. This milestone project, characterized by innovative solutions and meticulous execution, underscores Verdek's commitment to sustainability, efficiency, and future-ready infrastructure. A Vision for the Future The project lays the groundwork for a scalable EV charging network, featuring the installation of Level 2 and DC fast charging stations, with infrastructure prepared for an additional stations. In anticipation of future upgrades, Verdek strategically upscaled conduits to accommodate future potential installations, ensuring seamless expansion as EV adoption continues to grow. These future-proofing measures mitigate the need for disruptive and costly modifications in the future. Efficiency, Cost-Effectiveness, and On-Time Delivery Verdek's project management approach prioritized efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and strict adherence to deadlines. Through strategic planning and optimized resource allocation, the team successfully completed the installation on schedule and within budget, despite the complexities of site preparation and infrastructure expansion. By incorporating scalable design elements, Verdek minimized long-term maintenance and upgrade costs, providing exceptional value to our esteemed client and its stakeholders. Future-Ready and Environmentally Conscious 'Our team has successfully delivered a project that exemplifies the balance between innovation, operational efficiency, and environmental stewardship—all while meeting our strict project timeline,' said Guy Mannino, CEO of Verdek LLC. 'The site in Austin now serves as a model for cost-effective, scalable EV charging infrastructure. We are proud to contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future with this initiative.' About Verdek: With over 16+ years of experience in delivering cutting-edge EV charging solutions, Verdek has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses, municipalities, and government entities nationwide. The company's expertise in integrating advanced technology with user-centric design has consistently set new industry standards. A notable example of Verdek's capabilities is its eBus charging infrastructure in New York City. As a premier provider of electric vehicle charging solutions, Verdek is committed to fostering the growth of sustainable transportation. Offering a comprehensive range of products and services, the company delivers innovative, reliable, and user-friendly charging solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of customers across North America. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or (888) 336-3734. Visit us at
