Government attack on public transport continues

A short-sighted funding policy for public transport quietly released by the New Zealand Transport Agency on Friday afternoon will mean more expensive bus and rail fares throughout the country, said the Green Party today.

“The goal of the farebox recovery policy, which the Minister of Transport pushed NZTA to develop, is simply to get more money out of bus and rail passengers,” said Green Party Transport spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

“This is a damaging short-sighted approach that fails to recognize the wider economic, health and environmental benefits that buses and trains bring to our communities – like less congestion on our roads, cleaner air, and lower greenhouse emissions,” said Mr Hughes.

“Central Government introducing a target for regional councils means they will have to raise fares.

“Higher fares will mean fewer people use public transport. This creates a vicious downward spiral where regional councils have to cut services with low patronage,” said Mr Hughes.

The policy sets a goal for 50 percent of the cost of rail and bus services to be recouped from passengers around the country within 3 years of regional councils developing their Regional Public Transport Plan or by 2015.

However, an arbitrary target would not be the best way to improve the effectiveness of public transport services, Mr Hughes said.

“Right now our public transport services are suffering from decades of under-investment and privatisation, which led to many services being cut.

“The average age of a train on the Auckland network is 45 years. Is it any wonder then that many people do not have the option to take reliable, modern trains and buses?” said Mr Hughes.

There are only a few, exceptional cities around the world with farebox recovery ratios set at 50 percent or above. The average ratio for US cities with basic transit systems is 21 percent. In US cities with modern, high quality buses and trains, the ratio is 39 percent.

“To ask that our current buses and trains get 50 percent of costs back from users is unrealistic, particularly after decades of government policies that have reduced the effectiveness of public transport networks,” said Mr Hughes.

“Jon Key’s Government continues to repeat the mistakes of the past 50 years, which have led to congestion, a high road toll, and households paying heaps to get around in often old and dirty cars.

“We need smarter transport solutions, that will support a clean, green and prosperous economy,” said Mr Hughes.

For more information:
Gareth Hughes, MP 027 4229 290
Julie Genter, Advisor 04 817 6767

Link to policy:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/national-farebox-recovery-policy/