Government must deliver on PT fares – Public Transport Users Association

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The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) is disappointed Auckland Transport is once again raising most fares from February and is calling on the government for action.

Both the Labour and Green parties actively campaigned on being pro-public transport and fairer fares. Auckland mayor Phil Goff has campaigned on being pro-public transport. “Well, now is the time to put up and deliver lower fares for bus, train and ferry users” Jon Reeves, National Co-ordinator of the PTUA said.

Auckland Transport is out of control so can raise fares as they wish, but Labour’s Transport Minister Phil Twyford and Green’s Associate Transport Minister Julie Ann Genter both campaigned hard in the lead up to the last elections promoting public transport. They have not delivered and now Aucklanders, for a 3rd time since the 2017 general election, have to face another round of fare increases.

The PTUA would like the government to urgently provide Auckland Transport with the additional $3.5 million short fall to stop the fare increase, or better still provide AT with funds to enable significant fare reductions for all public transport users.

“Auckland has some of the highest fares in the world. If the Government took climate change, the environment and congestion seriously they would have increase funding. The Government allowed Auckland Council to quickly increase local petrol taxes, but how about something for public transport users?” Reeves added.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Here is our NGO press release yesterday on encouraging use of rail.

    https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2001/S00024/ceac-national-party-position-on-climate-change-is-abysmal.htm

    Politics
    CEAC -National Party position on climate change is abysmal
    Wednesday, 15 January 2020, 10:07 am
    Press Release: Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre
    CEAC supports Government for elevating clean ‘Rail Transport’ over truck transport, for moving more freight onto rail, thereby keeping our CO2 ‘climate emissions’ at a far lower levels, potentially stabilising climate changing weather events, saving taxpayer spending, keeping all our public highways /local roads safer, reducing road surface destruction from trucks causing immense road/bridge surface damages, saving taxpayer costs.
    Here’s the latest;
    • While Labour/NZ First have produced the new updated “National Rail strategy” which shows climate change leadership;
    https://www.budget.govt.nz/budget/2019/wellbeing/transforming-economy/investing-in-rail.htm
    Contrast Labour/NZ First to National;
    • National has vowed to scrap the RMA . https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/118223167/national-promises-to-repeal-and-replace-rma
    • National Instead plan to build massive highways for more (dirty emissions of CO2 using truck freight. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1912/S00153/national-to-deliver-on-housing-transport-and-infrastructure.htm
    • National also are deliberately refusing to plan for rail freight, thereby are encouraging no rail freight to and from all provincial ports.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/118223167/national-promises-to-repeal-and-replace-rma
    National promises to repeal and replace RMA.
    • Winston Peters and Phil Twyford as Minister of Transport have been outlining the rail potential benefits in this new rail policy here; https://www.budget.govt.nz/budget/2019/wellbeing/transforming-economy/investing-in-rail.htm
    Quote;
    • “Rail makes a vital contribution to urban public transport. Moving more freight by rail is economically efficient, and reduces carbon emissions as well as deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

    • “Previous Governments have taken a hands-off approach and left rail in a state of managed decline.

    • “That’s why we instigated the Future of Rail review to make sure we are taking a long-term, joined-up approach to rehabilitating rail.

    • “Our New Zealand Rail Plan will outline the Government’s strategic vision and give a 10-year programme of indicative investments and benefits,” Phil Twyford says.

    • KiwiRail will report on progress on implementing the Government’s vision for rail and further funding will be considered in Budget 2020.
    Unquote;
    CEAC hereby adds our support to Government for elevating clean ‘Rail Transport’ over truck transport, for moving more freight onto rail;
    • thereby keeping our CO2 ‘climate emissions’ at a far lower levels,
    • potentially stabilising climate changing weather events.
    • saving taxpayer spending,
    • Keeping all our public highways /local roads safer.
    • Reducing road surface destruction from trucks causing immense road/bridge surface damages.
    • Saving taxpayer costs from rising from paying for every day on roads all around our country.

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