Auckland Transport (AT) is increasing public transport fares by as much as 50 cents per ride, starting from February 10.
After its yearly fare review, the cost of using most bus, train and ferry services will rise by an average of 1.9 percent.
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"We would like to have been in position to not increase fares in 2019. Over the past three months we have been exploring means of funding any cost gap that could be created by not increasing fares," AT CEO Shane Ellison says.
"Unfortunately, a small fare increase is needed as any additional revenue generated by new growth resulting from holding fares at current levels is insufficient to meet the costs of providing public transport services without further funding being available."
Public transport is paid for through passenger fares and subsidies from Auckland Council and NZ Transport Agency, and AT says costs increase as it puts on more services.
"It's a balance for AT to provide an extensive public transport system that has enough capacity for a growing city, but we also know that cost is a major factor in how people travel, so we've found efficiencies in order to keep the fare increase at an average of 1.9 percent," Mr Ellison says.
"This is well below the inflationary pressures associated with providing public transport."
Overall, AT says the average cost per kilometre on public transport has dropped by as much as three percent for adults, 14 percent for tertiary students and 21 percent for children since 2015.
The full list of changes is here.
Newshub.
