Metro and MyWay fares rise
The Government's scrapping of funding for free public transport fares means the costs for some children and young adults using services in Timaru and Temuka are about to double.
On Tuesday, Environment Canterbury said changes to the Community Connect Concessions Scheme made by the Government would come into effect from May 1, meaning funding for free fares would end for 5 to 12-year-olds and the half-price fares for 13 to 24-year-olds on public transport services.
ECan’s public transport general manager Stewart Gibbon said while MyWay’s $1.50 child fare for 5 to 18-year-olds would remain, “both the under-13 Metro school and Metro Temuka-Timaru concession, and under-25 MyWay concession will cease in Timaru on April 30’’.
“This means children travelling on our Metro school services will need to start paying the 95 cents per ride fare again,” Gibbon said.
From May 1, 19 to 24-year-olds using MyWay and paying $1.50 would have to pay the adult price of $2.50. Children aged 5 to 18 would continue to pay $1.50.
The price for adults and Community Services Card holders remained the same.
On the Metro Temuka-Timaru service, those with a Metrocard aged between 5 and 18 would have to pay $2.20. At the moment it was free for 5 to 12-year-olds and $1.10 for 13 to 18 year-olds. Under-5s would remain free.
For young adults with a Metrocard, between 19 and 24 years, the cost would be $4.10, up from $2.05.
The cost for the Metro school services for those aged 5-18 years with a Metrocard would be 95 cents. At the moment it was free for 5 to 12-year-olds and 45c for 13 to 18-yearolds.
For young adults (19-24) with a Metrocard the cost would be $1.65, up from 85c.
Crown funding support for half-price public transport concessions for Community Services Card holders and 75% discounts for Total Mobility services would continue.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said in a statement he was committed to targeted support given to those who most needed affordable fares, while also balancing this against the cost pressures facing the entire transport system.