Wellington's bus network needs a $2.5 million fix, and ratepayers will have to help fund it.

Greater Wellington Regional Council released the findings of its bus network review on Monday, recommending almost 30 changes be made over the next three years.

To help pay for them, ratepayers face a 0.4 per cent rates increase in the 2020-21 financial year, and a 0.9 per cent increase in 2021-2022 - on top of other forecast increases.

READ MORE:

* False data led to bus problems

* Council to consult commuters

* Planners not equipped for job

* Review into bus problems

The review was commissioned following significant problems on the Wellington City network after it was redesigned in July last year.

It involved gathering feedback from more than 1700 commuters, as well as from bus drivers and operators, and the Tramways Union.

The results highlighted well-documented problems with over-crowding, lateness, cancellations, the removal of popular routes, and increased transfers on some journeys.

"A number of network changes had a negative impact on many Metlink customers, causing some to change their travel behaviour, including not using public transport or not making journeys that they would previously have made," the report said.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Wellington's bus network needs a $2.5 million fix. (File photo)

Commuters particularly disliked transferring between buses when they previously did not need to, and would accept less frequent services in order to reduce the number of required transfers, the report found.

The recommended changes would be made over three phases – pending approval from councillors on Thursday – with the first involving changes to NZ Bus routes in January and Tranzurban routes in May.

It was expected those changes could be made with minimal bus fleet and driver increases, but would require trade-offs such as less-frequent services on some routes.

The second round of changes would mostly occur in October next year, with the third and final set of improvements to take place from October 2021.

Many of the changes would involve removing transfers by introducing direct services to and from the central city.

There would also be later and earlier services on some routes, more express buses to the central city, larger buses where needed, better allocation of buses in peak times, and more frequent public consultation with bus drivers and commuters.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF A report into the design of the new network has recommended 30 changes to improve the system. (File photo)

However, the longer-term changes were dependent on detailed design and cost assessments, funding approval, sourcing extra buses and drivers, and changes to bus operator contracts.

A further 21 changes were also earmarked for further investigation, and would be assessed from next year.

They would be contingent on design and cost estimates, funding, additional drivers and buses, the Let's Get Wellington Moving transport programme, and changes to the Regional Public Transport Plan.

GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL The council's action plan will reduce the number of transfers required on the network over the next three years.

The report also detailed a number of problems with the network overhaul, which involved introducing new routes, fares, timetables, and operator contracts.

Those problems included an initial lack of buses because of delayed contract negotiations, and higher-than-expected demand.

The council also tried to provide a "cost-effective service" at peak times, aiming to use fewer buses and ultimately leading to more passengers being forced to stand.

Unlike the wide-ranging changes made last July, the council would roll out the new changes incrementally.

"Based on the experience from the 2018 changes, it is also recommended that council deliver the changes over time, and not try to implement too many actions concurrently."