Snapper exits, let's hope no cost to ratepayer

Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford says he hopes for the sake of the ratepayer and the taxpayer that Snapper won’t now sue Auckland Transport over the breakdown of the integrated ticketing arrangement.

Auckland Transport today announced that Snapper would be exiting the Auckland integrated ticketing project, after repeated delays and mounting costs, because of the failure to make the Snapper card compatible with the new system.

“It is vital for the sake of progress on Auckland’s public transport system that Auckland Transport now gets on and delivers a one-ticket system for Aucklanders as soon as possible.

“The decision to allow Snapper to roll out their card in Auckland only a year after they lost the competitive tender to deliver the overall system was plain stupid.

“It was a result of political pressure from Ministers Bill English and Steven Joyce. If by chance Snapper to take Auckland Transport to court, any bill for this mess should be sent to the Transport Minister.”