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TRANSPORT POLICY VIEWS
I believe there is great opportunity to improve our transport services across the Region. To do so Councillors need to review the information that they get from officers. We must move away from largely irrelevant and warm fuzzy reports which are often qualitative and make us feel good and insist on relevant quantitative information that provides the basis for sound decision making. With a background in business, I have found that relevant information is respected by both our residents and those charged with improving performance.
Here are examples of non-confidential information that has never, in my current term as a Councillor been made available to the Transport Committee:
- Considering the 4 years ending Jun 2022 our Transport (Bus Train Ferry) Total OPEX has increased by 37.7% while the number of passengers boarding (PAX) has decreased by 32.6%. Yes, Covid has had an effect, but we have not adjusted OPEX costs to any realistic degree and many of the Covid changes are permanent in that people often continue to work remotely.
- GWRC average OPEX cost per PAX in 2018 was $5.30 and in 2022 it was $10.84. Even if we adjust the 2022 figure for inflation it is an astonishing $9.40. Our PAX numbers have dropped by an incredible 12,547,763 trips. Such cost increases with declining passenger numbers are a direct increase in cost to ratepayers and make it more difficult to reduce ticket costs to encourage more passengers.
- In our Long-Term Plan (LTP) Transport costs are budgeted to increase by 12.9% in 2023 year and 21.6% in 2024 year. With such big increases we need to ask Councillors what they are doing about controlling costs to both ratepayers and to passengers. I have asked that we get reports that show how our decisions translate into ratepayer increases but have had no support from other Councillors. In my view such info is a no brainer for good decision making.
- I was critical of GW promoting the “Fares Review”. This was in the first case prior to the matter being approved by Council which is a clear breach of Governance responsibility. I have supported the fares review as it is largely aimed at assisting Community Card Holders, people with disabilities and the cost of travel to families. Many of these benefits are aimed at increasing off peak travel which has significant benefits from an operational perspective. Promoting it was not something I favoured as it will not happen until February 2023 or later subject to a new National Ticketing System which has taken over 8 years to develop and may not happen until 2025.
- Councillors make much about “Mode Shift” and this means getting people to take the bus, cycle or walk instead of using their own vehicle. With loss of passengers, we have had a significant negative mode shift over the last 4 years. In my view we need to be open and forthright about the situation, but such issues have not been raised at Transport Committee meetings. Perhaps someone may next ask about our Emissions Reductions which are talked about with enthusiasm, but no hard data is provided. Such hard information should be shared with our residents in my view.
I am optimistic that we can serve our transport community well if we are open and forthright about the issues we face.
Transport accounts for 67.3% of our total Operating Expenditure and not controlling it directly limits funding for our Environment which currently gets only 17.4% of our budget and deserves grater investment.
My view is that Councillors need to discuss these issues and demand that full and relevant information is provided. There are many more examples that I can comment on if residents are interested.
Interested in my other policy views?
Harbour Policy Views
Here are my views on the challenges, priority and actions needed in regards to the harbour and its catchment.
Environment Policy Views
Porirua Harbour and key information specific to sediment monitoring