I Have

Auckland Transport has called for submissions to the Regional Public Transport Plan which I have the introduction below:

Consultation opens on Auckland’s Regional Public Transport Plan

11/05/2015 03:01 p.m.

Auckland Transport (AT) is consulting on a proposed variation to Auckland’s Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP).

This is a statutory document that describes the services that are integral to Auckland’s public transport network and the policies and procedures that apply to those services. It describes the public transport services that Auckland Transport proposes for the region over the next 10 years and outlines how this vision for Auckland’s public transport network will be delivered.

The current RPTP was completed in 2013 but since then some new public transport initiatives have reached the stage where they need to be added, these include simplified zone fares, light rail, ferry development and New Network services.

Simplified Zone Fares

To support the new, connected public transport network being rolled out across Auckland, AT is proposing the introduction of simplified zone fares across the Auckland public transport network. The new simplified zone fares system will allow customers using AT HOP cards to pay one fare for their entire journey on bus or rail, regardless of whether or not they need to transfer between services to complete the journey. Auckland Transport is undertaking a parallel in depth consultation on the detail of simplified zone fares.

Find out more [and submit] on the Auckland’s Regional Public Transport Plan.

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Full page and source: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/news-events/consultation-opens-on-auckland%E2%80%99s-regional-public-transport-plan/

Having submitted on Zone Fares in the original Regional Public Transport Plan back in 2013 (in general support) my submission this time again was around the Zone Fares Auckland Transport have proposed this time.

In essence what AT have submitted is similar to what I have proposed before. However, I believe the City Zone should be extended to Newmarket and Orakei Stations to allow single rather than double zone travel (thus costing more in fares). Why?

While heavy rail is more efficient over medium and long distance journeys it can be more efficient for shuttle trips (so between two well utilised stations) when patronage between such stations is quite high. Britomart, Newmarket and Orakei are busy stations and it would be wise to encourage users to use rail here for trips between those stations. The rail system has (well will have post City Rail Link) the capacity to move the high amount of passengers shuttling between those three respective stations. Therefore it is more efficient (in terms of speed and capacity) to shuttle those passengers by rail rather than a bus.

With that in mind a one zone rather than two zone fare should apply for Newmarket and Orakei to Britomart to encourage rail shuttling rather than have them gun for the bus or car to the City Centre.

Another point I also raises was Fare equity for short distance trips on public transport. We already know most commutes in the off-peak and weekend tend to be within 2-5km of the home. Yet the Zone Fare system while cheaper for that Papakura to Britomart commute it can not be said for say Papakura to Manurewa or Papakura to Manukau City Centre both being much shorter trips. So is Auckland Transport encouraging car use and localised congestion for those short trips or will something with the off-peak and weekend fares make those short distance trips just that little bit more equitable – especially for South and West Auckland.

Those above points (and my continued push for the Manukau South Rail Link) were what I submitted on for the RPTP. You have until June 4 to get yours in.