The proposed interim $2 flat fares for Dunedin buses could disadvantage some of the city’s poor, a draft Dunedin City Council submission says.
The council’s transport department said the $2 flat fares, or $1.50 for youth — part of the introduction of the Bee Card now under consultation at the Otago Regional Council — would make buses cheaper for about two-thirds of passengers.
"However, there are some disadvantaged groups (children, tertiary students and GoCard Extra holders) travelling in one zone."
In a letter drafted to ORC transport manager Garry Maloney, which requires DCC approval on Tuesday, Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins said his council would like to work with the regional council "to mitigate impacts of the fare change"
The DCC "would like offer up to $600,000 of financial support to help address the inequities the simplified structure has created for children, tertiary students and GoCard Extra users travelling in zone one".
Those users would have to pay higher fares of 28c-35c per zone one trip under the proposal, the draft submission states.
"While the increase in fares for this group can be viewed as small, people from this group are likely to be on low fixed incomes and may be adversely impacted.
"A number of these residents don’t have the luxury of transport choice, and so increasing their bus fares seems like an inequitable outcome."
The draft submission to the regional council consultation which closes on July 2 supports the proposed interim flat fares in general but also states there are weaknesses in the proposal and emphasises city council’s "strong desire" for greater involvement in Dunedin’s public transport system.
It states the city council would be happy to work with the regional council on the issue "as a matter of urgency so as to not unnecessarily delay implementation of the Bee Card".
In February, the city council unanimously voted to allocate an unbudgeted expenditure of up to $600,000 in the draft annual plan for 2020-21 to enable cheaper bus fares in Dunedin.
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Just another example of council inefficiency. Ratepayers are now pay 2 different councils to do the same job and pay for the same bus service. The DCC transport department should constantly be working with that of the ORC. So there is no need for separate submissions or funding. The poor and disadvantage people of Dunedin do need help, lower rates might a better place to start or for $600,000 you could of brought an electric people carrier and payed the wages of a driver for a year to provide a door to door service free of charge.
Having the ORC manage our bus service is madness.
How on earth did it ever get to be that way.
Mind you, wasting managers and associated staff on reports over 35 cent for the small numbers that travel one zone is also virtue signalling madness at rate payers expense.
As for all the defined levels of ‘disadvantaged’, it’s just more of the same. A few cents for the so called victims of society and a big fat salary for the righteous.
No wonder the average person shuns the busses, apart from the inconvenience.
Keep it simple stupid, and get on with the next task.
How are the mud traps???
We are coming into spring and that’s when we get the most rain.
This really does highlight just how inept many councillors are. Make a silly sweeping policy, which for someone being paid (not earning) over $100,000 a year seems a good idea.
Oh, but there may be negative consequences of silly, unplanned and ill considered spending. Who would have thought.
And the amazing thing is the greens think that they might get some government seats from Dunedin. Not likely now we seee how clever they really are.