ARTA Media Release

19 November 2009

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) today released the Draft Auckland Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) for public consultation.

ARTA’s General Manager, Strategy and Planning, Peter Clark, says, “The purpose of the Plan is to specify how ARTA will give effect to the public transport components of the Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS).

“The RLTS calls for a significant increase in investment in public transport over the next decade and beyond. ARTA recognises that there will always be limitations on the amount of public funds that are available for transport initiatives and the need to prioritise how those funds will best be spent.

“For this reason, the Plan includes a set of policies aimed at guiding the prioritisation process. ARTA has also taken steps to ensure that the proposals contained in this Plan will deliver economic benefits that justify investment. Public input to these policies is particularly important”

Mr Clark says, “Key priorities for ARTA in the next stage of developing the region’s public transport system are all about the customer and include; an integrated network of services that makes interchange between and within modes, easy; an integrated system of fares and ticketing, a competitive and efficient market for public transport services and an optimal allocation of risk between operators and ARTA and a consistent and integrated approach to the provision of commercial services, among other priorities”.

The Auckland RPTP can be found at libraries and councils or in PDF format on http://www.arta.co.nz.

The timetable for public consultation and release of the final Auckland RPTP is:

18th November 2009
- Draft RPTP released for consultation

24th December 2009
- Submissions close

15th -19th February 2010
- Public Hearings will occur

April 2010
- Auckland RPTP launched

Written submissions can be made via http://www.arta.co.nz.

ENDS

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