Background
Bay of Plenty Regional Council provides public transport services in
the Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatāne urban areas, and connector routes
in Western Bay, Ōpōtiki, Kawerau and rural Whakatāne districts.
In September 2019, the Public Transport Committee approved the scope for a Regional Fare Review with goals of increasing patronage, reducing CO2 emissions, providing equitable transport, and encouraging mode shift.
Options for the regional fare review were discussed by the Public Transport Committee in February 2020. Community engagement around the options was intended to be carried out as part of the Annual Plan 2020/21, but did not occur due to the impacts of COVID-19. We already have several public transport initiatives underway, some of which will carry on into the first six months of the Long Term Plan.
A Tauranga schools fare free trial is currently underway and will run until December 2021. In August 2020 more than 70,000 trips on Tauranga bus services were made using the trial. This trial is not region-wide.
A regional tertiary education fare free trial is currently underway and will run until December 2021. The trial is in partnership with tertiary providers in the region, who contribute funding. In August 2020 over 21,000 trips on regional bus services were made as part of the trial.
A concession option for Community Services Card holders was included in the Regional Fare Review as part of providing equitable transport choices to our community. We do not currently provide free fares for Community Services Card holders.
We have also previously considered introducing flat fares to improve public transport patronage. Currently, fares differ by distance covered.
The Issue
We are seeking your views on four main issues:
- Should we expand the Tauranga schools fare free trial to cover the whole region, and make it permanent?
- Should we make the regional tertiary education fare free trial permanent?
- Should we bring in free fares for Community Services Card holders?
- Should we bring in flat fares?
Introducing or expanding these initiatives might help improve public
transport patronage and make it more accessible and equitable
Should the Regional Council offer region-wide free bus fares for school children?
Options
| Description | Level of Service Effects | Financial Effects | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1* |
No free fares for school children (The existing Tauranga trial to December 2021 will be reviewed at expiry for continuation from 2022) |
No change |
No change |
|
2. |
Free fares for school children during arrival/departure times (e.g. 7-9am and 3-6pm). This will cover the whole region, not just the current Tauranga trial area. |
Increase |
Approximately $759,000 per annum revenue not collected, which will increase targeted rates by an average of 11.4% (excluding Western Bay of Plenty District Council). This is equivalent to on average, an increased passenger transport targeted rate per property (inc. GST) of $10.83 in Tauranga, $8.85 in Rotorua or $1.90 in Whakatāne. (This scenario is also incorporated in the ‘flat fare for buses’ consultation question.) |
|
3. |
Free fares for school children at all times (on showing identification). This will cover the whole region, not just the current Tauranga trial area. |
Increased |
Approximately $921,000 per annum revenue not collected, which will increase targeted rates by an average of 13.9% (excluding Western Bay of Plenty District Council). This is equivalent to on average, an increased passenger transport targeted rate per property (inc. GST) of $13.14 in Tauranga, $10.74 in Rotorua or $2.30 in Whakatāne. (This scenario is also incorporated in the ‘flat fare for buses’ consultation question.) |
*Preferred option
Should the Regional Council retain region-wide free bus fares for tertiary students?
Options
*Preferred option
Should the Regional Council introduce region-wide free bus fares for Community Services Card holders?
Options
| Description | Level of Service Effects | Financial Effects | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1* |
No free fares for CSC card holders |
No change |
No change |
|
2. |
Free fares for CSC card holders |
Increase |
Approximately $442,000 per annum fare revenue not collected which will increase targeted rates by an average of 5.6% in 2021/22. This is equivalent to, on average, an increased targeted rate per property of $6.35 in Tauranga, $3.97 in Rotorua, $1.42 in Western Bay or $0.55 in Whakatāne (including GST). |
*Preferred option
Should the Regional Council introduce region-wide flat fares for buses?
Options
| Description | Level of Service Effects | Financial Effects | |
|---|---|---|---|
1* | No | No change | No change |
2. | Flat fare structure (intra-urban/intra-region). This is proposed as $2 for urban trips using a Bee card, with cash fares approximately $1 higher. Fares for trips within the region are to be determined. | Increase | Approximately $1,838,000 per annum fare revenue not collected which will increase targeted rates by an average of 33.9% in 2021/22. This is equivalent to, on average, an increased targeted rate per property of $25.86 in Tauranga, $13.31 in Rotorua, $5.79 in Western Bay or $9.17 in Whakatāne (including GST). |
*Preferred option
Make a submission
Let us know what you think. Make a submission on our plans for the next 10 years
