MEDIA RELEASE Friday 10 March 2006

Community asked to take futuristic look at public transport

What could make Christchurch’s Metro public transport system even better?

That’s the question Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury are asking the community as they work to update the Christchurch Public Passenger Transport Strategy.

Members of the public are asked to think about what our Metro service should be like in 2016, what goals we should be striving for and how we can get there.

“Things for people to consider include our increasing population, ballooning traffic congestion, the increasing average age of Christchurch residents and how to get more people out of cars and using public transport,” Council transport planner Robert Woods said.

“The existing Public Passenger Transport Strategy, introduced in 1998, has been highly successful prompting the introduction of initiatives such as the Orbiter, the Metrostar, more than 150 new low floor buses, a 50 per cent increase in services and real time information for bus passengers,” he said. “But it’s now time to develop a new strategy that will assist the Council and Ecan to take Metro public transport onward and upward to 2016.”

Submissions can be made by filling in the online form at www.metrostrategy.org.nz or by picking up a submission form from a Council Service Centre; Christchurch City Library; Civic Offices, Tuam St; or Environment Canterbury’s Kilmore St offices. All submissions must be received by Friday 31 March.

When the current round of public consultation ends, all comments will be considered and a draft strategy will be prepared that will go out for public comment later this year. After this consultation closes, a final strategy will be prepared for the Councils to approve and implement.

For more information or copies of the current Metro Public Transport Strategy visit the metrostrategy website, phone Metroinfo on 366-8855 or visit metroinfo at the Bus Exchange.

ENDS

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