Have your say - consultation opens on public transport fare changes

Consultation opened today on a raft of public transport fare changes proposed by Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Chair of the Sustainable Transport Committee Barbara Donaldson says people have five weeks to give their feedback on the fare changes.

“The fares package is part of our vision to get more people using public transport and to ensure Wellington’s public transport network remains the best in New Zealand. These changes are aimed at encouraging off-peak public transport use, helping disadvantaged groups and are paving the way for improvements to the city’s bus network.

"To help fund these changes we’re proposing an overall 3% rise in fares so it’s important people tell us what they think about it all.”

The proposed fare discounts mean that bus and train customers travelling at off-peak times will receive a 25 per cent discount, while the blind, disabled and full-time tertiary students will get an all-day 25 per cent discount. A 50 per cent discount will be extended to all schoolchildren, reducing fares for school children travelling shorter distances (1 to 5 zones).

Free bus transfers are also proposed because more passengers will need to switch buses as part of a forthcoming redesign of Wellington city’s bus network.

Other proposals include:

• offering more free bus connections to trains

• replacing six day passes with a single pass that is zone-based and valid region-wide

• bringing ferry fares more into line with bus and train fares

• ending school term and 30-day passes, relying on Snapper and free transfers on bus and rail monthly passes and 10-trip tickets

• making a boundary change to enable people in Titahi Bay and Porirua East to travel within their suburb and also to reach Porirua’s CBD without crossing into another zone

• extending the 25 per cent charge for cash to zone 1 to encourage more electronic payments

• amending rail tickets offered on event days.

It's planned these proposals will be implemented in mid-2018 with the new bus contracts and new Wellington city bus network.

“Consultation is open until 15 September, during that time we will hold public meetings throughout Wellington, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Kapiti and Wairarapa. People can also make a written submission or organise an oral submission through our website,” says Cr Donaldson.

To have your say, please go to http://www.gw.govt.nz/better-metlink-fares-consultation/

ENDS

© Scoop Media