June 11, 2008

MEDIA STATEMENT

Fuel price rises leads to Metro fares increase

ECan is putting up bus fares by ten to 15 per cent from July 7, 2008, to keep pace with fuel cost increases.

The chair of the public transport portfolio Cr Carole Evans said the rise had been foreshadowed in the draft annual plan. The last time Metro fares went up was three years ago.

“We have the best public transport service in New Zealand and with fuel prices spiralling, more people are leaving their cars behind for daily travel,” said Cr Evans.

Metro popularity is continuing to grow in Christchurch at around 6 per cent annually. The April 2008 growth was almost 20 per cent up on April 2007 in both Christchurch and Timaru. “Patronage in Christchurch is likely to be around 16.6 million trips annually to the end of June, a big rise on 15.7 million the year before,” Cr Evans said.

The cost of Metro services is shared between regional council rates, central government subsidies, and fares. ECan aims to have the income from fares covering between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of the total cost of the service.

The new fares, as of July 7, will increase for one-way adult trips within Christchurch’s zone 1 (most of the city) from $2.50 to $2.80 cash, and adult Metrocard (discount) fare from $1.90 to $2.10.

Zone 2 fares (for example to Lincoln) would increase to $3 Metrocard and $4 cash.

Zone 3 fares (for example to Waimakariri District) would remain the same at $3.75 Metrocard and $5 cash.

In each case the Metrocard discount is 25 per cent of the cash fare. Weekly travel for adults using a Metrocard within Zone 1 is capped at $21 regardless of how many trips are taken over the seven days. Around 80 per cent of Metro users use a Metrocard.

ENDS

/ Adult // Child /
/ Cash / Metrocard / Discount // Cash / Metrocard / Discount
Zone 1 / $2.80 / $2.10 / 25% // $1.40 / $1.05 / 25%
Zone 2 / $4.00 / $3.00 / 25% // $2.00 / $1.50 / 25%
Zone 3 / $5.00 / $3.75 / 25% // $2.50 / $1.90 / 25%

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