Public transport leaders have requested an urgent meeting with the Transport Minister over revenue targets that would mean a surge in bus, ferry and train fares.
Waka Kotahi NZTA has sent letters to local councils and transport authorities asking them to increase their private share — that is, the proportion of the total cost of providing public transport that comes from things other than rates or government funding.
The targets would have to be agreed to by December 19.
It would mean a Wellingtonian spending $10 a day on Metlink fares would have to spend $17 a day under the new rates.
On behalf of all public transport authorities besides Auckland Transport, Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Daran Ponter has penned a letter to Transport Minister Simeon Brown.
The letter stated public transport authorities would like to meet with the minister under urgency and asked for the Government to pause the targets whilst collaborative research and testing could be done.
Ponter said public transport regional councils had “grave concerns” about the time to respond to the targets and the individual targets for each council.
He also called into question the thinking behind the targets.
“The process to establish the targets appears to have been rushed and is based on questionable methodology followed by NZTA.
“We understand that a research project, expected to provide some foundation for the approach to private share, is still at the commissioning phase.”
The letter stated that the target deadline was unreasonable and unachievable for many regional councils.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has been approached for comment.
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