A battle is brewing between the operators of Auckland bus services and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority over the future provision of public transport services in the region. ARTA’s transport bureaucrats, concerned about rising subsidies not being matched by rising passenger numbers, want to reign in the companies by taking control of their operations, using the new Public Transport Management Act passed into law earlier this month. ARTA’s Mark Lambert says the move will mean improved services for passengers and provide better use of the $93m of public subsidies which the Auckland Regional Council and the Govt have budgeted for bus services in the region this financial year.

Disincentive To Invest. But NZ Bus, which has taken over the former Stagecoach fleets in both Auckland and Wellington, says businesses will become less willing to invest in public transport. “This is a backward step for the travelling public. Should we lose control of our business, there will be no incentive to innovate or invest,” says CEO, Bruce Emson. He further warns operators will simply focus on the lowest-cost provision of the lowest-standard services as defined by Regional Authorities, making it harder to persuade NZers to get out of their cars. The overall cost to ratepayers will also increase as at present all investment in better services, new technologies and buses will be at the expense of ratepayers or not happen at all. However, it seems the operators will have little choice but to accept the change so the pressure will come on ARTA to deliver the improvements it says it can.

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