Converting Dunedin's passenger bus fleets to electric trolley
buses could cost many millions of dollars - and ratepayers,
rather than public transport users, might have to foot the
bill, insiders suggest.
The Dunedin City Council-commissioned Peak Oil Vulnerability
Analysis Report says the council must take a "critical
leadership role" and take the city from oil-dependent
transport to modes based on sustainable, renewable energy.
It recommends at least 50km of electric trolley bus routes be
developed and says converting to electric buses or trolleys
would lead to a direct reduction in fuel demand and provide
an increasingly affordable alternative when fuel price spikes
bite.
It also noted the people of Dunedin "are not happy with the
current bus service".
Otago Regional councillor and Passenger Transport Working
Group co-chairman Michael Deaker welcomed the report but
warned it had "big dollar signs written all over it".
He doubted whether the Government would contribute and
expected lines or rails to be provided and owned by one or
both of the councils; he could not imagine private companies
already operating on tight margins taking the risk on
infrastructure that would take years to pay for itself.
Previous work showed it would cost about $8 million to have
light rail from the botanic garden to the Exchange.
Cr Deaker imagined the cost of converting 50km of routes to
trolley buses would be "significant".
Cr Deaker said the report might encourage more discussion of
alternatives, such as electric buses already used in the
likes of Christchurch.
It might also revive calls for the city to reassume
responsibility for public transport.
Dunedin Passenger Transport director Kane Baas said no
operator "in their right mind" would wear the cost of
building the infrastructure to run an electric trolley
service.
The lines would have to be installed and owned by the council
and the routes would have to be tendered in the same way as
they were in Wellington.
It all meant ratepayers would bear the cost of a service that
would cost "many, many millions" to provide, before the
council gave the current services a fighting chance.
"If the council wants to prepare for peak oil, if it wants to
encourage more people on to public transport right now, then
it should have a long, hard look at what it charges for inner
city parking.
"If it wants to get people out of cars and into public
transport, it should do what it can to give the current
situation a chance - that will show us how much people will
use public transport."
Dunedin Cablecar Trust spokesman Phil Cole was unsure how
electric trolley buses would handle steep streets but
believed the city was ready to start talking about an
integrated public transport system of trolleys and light
rail.
Moving to fixed-line, fixed-route services would make it
easier to plan for, and encourage the development of, the
urban villages recommended in the report.
It would also recognise public transport was integral to city
infrastructure, and a vital social service.
Whatever happened, the councils needed to actively consult
their ratepayers: the report said many were unhappy with the
current bus services, and the same mistakes must not be made
again, Mr Cole said.
The report also said surveys in Dunedin and outlying
surrounding areas in August showed residents would consider
the bus as an alternative to car trips for nearly 30% of
travel kilometres.
It also found many people were not happy with the present bus
services.
stu.oldham@odt.co.nz
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