Public consultation opens today on the draft Regional Public Transport Plan, and Environment Canterbury has announced that this Saturday, 22 September, travel on its bus network will be free.

Saturday is World Car-free Day. Greater Christchurch Public Transport Joint Committee member and Environment Canterbury chair Steve Lowndes says that it is an ideal way to celebrate the beginning of public consultation on the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP).

“This RPTP is vastly different to previous plans, containing for the first time the visionary change needed to create a healthier and more environmentally sustainable city and region,” he says.

“The plan includes proposals for more buses on more high frequency routes, introduction of measures to free up the passage of buses along their journeys, and a transition to zero emission vehicles. It’s all about making public transport a much more desirable option, and setting up Greater Christchurch for a sustainable transport future.”

Steve Lowndes says that providing free public transport on World Car-free Day is an opportunity for people to try their local service, leave the car at home for the day, and to think about the sort of public transport system needed across Greater Christchurch.

“Everyone is invited to have a say about the options outlined in the RPTP. For the first time, the Public Transport Joint Committee agencies* have worked together to develop a significant component of the Plan, asking residents about their appetite for an increased investment in public transport,” he says.

“If this future vision is to become a reality, we are going to need substantially more investment from the early 2020s. How fast we can make this transition will depend on the rate of funding available, coming from a combination of fares, rates and Government grants. The feedback from this consultation will guide us in determining how quickly Greater Christchurch should make the transition to a better, faster, and less carbon-reliant network,” says Steve Lowndes.

Consultation is open until Sunday 14 October, with information and a full list of community events available at ConnectCanterbury.co.nz or by calling 03 366 8855.

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