There is a glaring and unjustifiable omission from the proposed zones: Waiheke Island. We
are Auckland City ratepayers and we have every right to be included in the zone
system, especially since one of the public transport companies on Waiheke is
subsidised by AT and one company accepts (single fare) Hop cards. Waiheke
Islanders should have the ability to travel from Waiheke to the City centre on
one fare, just as is proposed for travellers on the mainland going the same
distance. Travellers using their Super Gold Card already enjoy this integrated privilege
and it should be extended to all island travellers. The fare structure should
be the same as for Manukau South to the CBD, i.e. Zone 4. Using a zonal Hop
card on any travel mode (bus/train/ferry) should not make a difference to the
fare for the distance travelled.
Regards the proposed
zone fares, Zone 4 indicates a $6-$6.50 range (compared to a $9.50-$10 cash
range). This seems a fair ferry fare. Currently both ferry companies charge a ‘tourist’
premium on their single fares of around $20. For Waiheke regular travellers and
commuters, who have access to multi-ride and season tickets, the fares are already
at the Zone 4 cash range.
In the ‘proposed fare
products’ you need to delete the reference to ‘inner-harbour ferries’ and
include Waiheke ferries too. The Hop single day and monthly passes (plus any
others planned) should be available on Waiheke too, as it is/will be in any
Zone 4 area.
In summary:
-
Waiheke Island to be included in the proposed zone
system;
-
Island-serving ferry and bus companies
integrated in the city-wide fares system on an equitable (distance) basis;
-
Seasonal Hop passes covering all transport modes
city-wide, including all ferries.
I understand that AT has had historical trouble (as did its
predecessor, the ARTA) in reigning in Fullers’ monopoly and has still not
succeeded in integrating that company properly by abolishing the PTOM exemption. This not the public transport regulator’s
only failure. The Fullers monopoly now seems broken on the ferry service (no
thanks to AT) by the Explore Group. But Explore is not even mentioned in any
plans to be included in the Hop fare system (let alone getting a proper working
berth on Pier 2). Why these oversights and shortcomings? And when are they
going to be remedied?