RAM community advisory 17.1.07

The alternative to public transit fare hikes

Despite recent falls in oil prices, bus and train fares have again gone up across Auckland. The average rise for bus fares was 7.8%, while for trains it was 15%. Even before the latest rise, bus fares in our region were some of the highest in the world. Private bus operators are creaming off massive public subsidies as well as imposing internationally uncompetitive ticket prices.

Many citizens are saying it's crazy for public transit fares to rise when we're facing chronic car congestion across the region, And many citizens realise that climate chaos will hit the world unless there's a huge cut in greenhouse gas emissions, one of the worst being carbon dioxide from vehicle exhausts.

The fare hike was decided by the (unelected) Auckland Regional Transport Authority without prior knowledge by the (elected) Auckland Regional Council, which by law is supposed to "oversee" the authority. Our region's democratic deficit grows worse in tandem with the highway robbery of commercial transit operators.

TRANSPORT SHAMBLES

Greater Auckland is suffering from a transport shambles. For instance:
• Our highways are hopelessly clogged for much of the time, and congestion just gets worse the more motorways that are built.

• Over the next decade, many billions are earmarked for building motorways which state road builder Transit NZ admits will "quickly" become just as clogged unless modest income motorists are priced off them by high tolls.

• Despite the government's new rhetoric about creating a "carbon neutral" country, public transit receives only a fraction of what is spent on road building in Greater Auckland.

• Buses carry the vast bulk of public transit commuters, yet bus fares are ridiculously over-priced while the service is lousy at many times and in many areas.

• The provision of new bus lanes and expressways is proceeding at a snail's pace, while the government still hasn't agreed to fund rail electrification.

• There is no integrated timetabling or ticketing between different bus firms and trains and ferries because each company is putting its private profit ahead of public service.

• The government will not guarantee to change its law that prohibits a council from owning and operating its own subsidised bus service for the public good, rather than as a profit-driven commercial entity. (In effect, the law says a council can subsidise the profits of a private firm, but not its own bus operation for the good of its community.)

These sorts of factors add up to an unsustainable transportation network in Greater Auckland. We cannot go on this way. The lack of imagination of many local government politicians and bureaucrats is matched only by their lack of will to challenge the status quo.

RAM'S PLAN

We need a far more serious push for public transit in Greater Auckland. To make this happen, RAM (Residents Action Movement) advocates:
• The introduction of free and frequent public transport across the region's built-up areas.

• Auckland Regional Council to buy and operate 3,000 low-emission buses as a public service.

• A fast-track programme to create bus lanes and expressways through all built-up areas.

• Electrified commuter rail to be extended to as many areas as possible.

• Financing to mostly come from a major diversion of funds from motorway building in Greater Auckland to public transit.

• Top-up financing to come from taxes on hotel beds and airport arrivals so tourists offset their carbon emissions getting here.

Obviously such robust policy changes will require central government agreement on legislative reforms and funding arrangements. But the critical factor for change won't be government politicians, but an organised push from the grassroots in Greater Auckland.

That's why RAM will be standing candidates in the October 2007 local body election on a platform of free and frequent public transport, along with policies promoting practical extensions of democracy and a large reduction in homeowner rates.

EVENTS THIS TUESDAY

As well, RAM will forge alliances with other citizens' groups and take our campaign to the streets when necessary. To mark our disapproval of the public transit fare hikes, RAM will be staging these events:
• 4pm this coming Tuesday, 23 January - gather outside office of Auckland Regional Transport Authority, corner Pitt & Hopetoun Sts, central Auckland (the ARC building). RAM will deliver an Open Letter to the authority calling for a free buses trial as a positive alternative to public transit fare hikes.

• 4.30pm the same day - march from authority office to the Britomart to hand out leaflets and petitions advocating free and frequent public transport.

Ends

© Scoop Media