Auckland public transport fares to rise next month
Auckland residents will be paying 6.2% more on average for trips on public transport from next month, Auckland Transport announced this morning.
The February 4 cost rise is to "help meet significant and sustained operating cost increases". It comes as part of Auckland Transport's (AT) annual review of fares against changes in operating costs and available budget.
Fares are typically updated in February, taking into account the cost of living and the investment needed to maintain and improve public transport services, it explained.
AT confirmed a weighted average increase of 6.2% will be implemented across its fare structure. For standard adult fares, this works out to be an increase of between $0.06 and $0.40 per journey on buses, trains and ferries.
AT's public transport and active modes director Stacey van der Putten said this year fares have increased to keep up with the "rising cost of running and maintaining Auckland's public transport network".
"In recent years we have been mindful of the impacts Covid-19 and extreme weather has had on our customers. We deferred last year's fare increase until April and in 2022 there was no increase at all," she said.
Van der Putten said operating costs have spiked dramatically over this period, driven by high inflation and staff shortages.
"Adjusting fares to raise revenue is unfortunately one of the steps AT needs to take to cover these higher costs," she said.
"We are committed to keeping public transport an affordable option for all Aucklanders, so the increase for longer journeys is only 1% - 4%."
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What word sums up 2024, neighbours?
If 2020 was the year of lockdowns, banana bread, and WFH (work from home)....
In one word, how would you define 2024?
We're excited to see what you come up with!
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️