Grey Power has given a cautious thumbs up to Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss’s review of the SuperGold Card public transport scheme.

Mr Foss announced yesterday (June 17) the long awaited review had found methods to retain the subsidised public transport services for more than 662,000 SuperGold card holders.

He said Government had worked with local authorities and transport providers and there would still be free off-peak travel on a wide range of services and the moratorium on new services entering the scheme from September 1 has been lifted.

Grey Power Federation national vice president Tom O’Connor said there had been serious anxiety among senior citizens over what the results of the review would reveal.

“We have waited 18 months for the results of the review and we were expecting some serious cut backs but they seemed to have been avoided.”

Mr O’Connor said there was considerable relief that SuperGold card holders in main metropolitan centres would not lose the ability to travel around the city at off peak times.

“However we are, as yet, uncertain about the effects of the new funding system for the scheme and we will wait and see how than plays out.”

The Government has announced a funding cap of just over $28million a year for the next five years, with annual Consumer Price Index adjustments to account for inflation and individual fare reimbursements for councils will be replaced with a bulk funding system as well as introducing a tendering system for the Waiheke Island ferry route. The new scheme will also require SuperGold Card holders to purchase smartcards, such as the AT HOP card, as smartcard ticketing systems become available.

“That might take some SuperGold car holders a while to get used to and the bulk funding of local authorities might create a few problems but, with the relationship we have with most councils, I am confident we can work through those issues.”

ENDS

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