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.