Southlanders are being asked for their input into a new public transport plan, released for consultation today until 5pm, Monday 12 April 2021.

The draft Southland Regional Public Transport Plan 2021-31 sets the future direction of public transport in Invercargill and the wider Southland region.

It was prepared by the Invercargill City Council under delegation from Environment Southland and proposes, among other things, a new bus route and schedules for the city in a bid to improve patronage.

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Over the next 10 years, the priorities are to improve access to essential goods and services, improve value for money, and to reduce emissions.

Actions to achieve these priorities include simplifying the Invercargill bus network, improving travel times and creating more access to key destinations.

There would be an Invercargill BusSmart terminus, a BeeCard smart ticketing system, and an investigation into low emission vehicles, alternative fuels and technologies. 

Environment Southland will also re-tender the Invercargill bus contract before it runs out in 2022.

Transport is a regional council responsibility, but the public transport services in Southland are currently delivered under contract by the Invercargill City Council.

It presently costs most people a flat fee of $2 (with bus card) or $3 (cash) to catch the bus, with under-fives and people with a Super Gold Card travelling for free.

The bus service receives some central government funding, but that is dependent on a policy the contractor achieve a 50% fare box recovery. 

However, the Invercargill City Council’s fare box recovery is 33%, because low patronage and low fares are not keeping up with the costs of recovery.

The draft plan outlines the challenges faced by the Invercargill City Council in encouraging patronage, which has been continually declining since changes to the service in 2012.

“It is essential that the negative trend in patronage is reversed to satisfy investors that they are getting value for money and ensure continued support for Invercargill’s network service,” the plan says.

The plan says the Invercargill City Council has tried to combat declining patronage by improving customer experience, such as introducing free Wifi and improved journey information. 

This financial year, the council is introducing smart ticketing and network and timetable changes in an effort to encourage patronage from a wider sector of the community to use the bus, including commuters, the plan says.

Environment Southland lead transport planner Russell Hawkes said Environment Southland and the Invercargill City Council would also be looking at the wider public transport system across the Southland region.

“Southland’s existing public transport services are largely servicing the urban population of Invercargill. One of the questions this plan asks is whether all our communities are sufficiently serviced, or whether there’s a need to consider options in the future to provide better connections for the entire region,” Mr Hawkes said.

Six new routes

A northern and southern leg to each of three "through routes" creates six "pulse routes". GRAPHIC: Invercargill City Council

The proposed new bus schedule and routes for Invercargill would replace the current four circular routes and create up to six ‘pulse routes’ that come together regularly at a central terminus.

Invercargill City Council roading manager Russell Pearson said the network changes would provide better coverage and result in on-bus trip times of under 15 minutes to and from the central city.

Each of the three new ‘through-routes’ has a northern and southern leg, creating six ‘pulse routes’.

“The changes are in response to customer feedback that loops took too long, were not direct enough, and that timetables did not get passengers into town at the right time, particularly in the mornings,” Mr Pearson said.

The plan describes the region-wide Total Mobility scheme as a success and suggests it should be maintained. 

There are approximately 1,460 people in Invercargill, 230 in Gore and 13 in the Southland District who are registered for the Total Mobility scheme, collectively making about 54,500 trips annually.

Feedback is being sought on whether the Total Mobility scheme is sufficient, and the environmental impacts of public transport.

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More transport consultation

Also out for consultation until 12 noon, Monday 29 March 2021 is the draft Otago Southland Regional Land Transport Plans 2021-31. 

This was jointly created with the Otago Regional Council and proposes improvements to the two regions’ transport networks for the next six years.

It forms the application for funding from the National Land Transport Fund for the next three years. 

Copies of both plans and submission forms are available from the Invercargill City Council and Environment Southland offices, or online HERE. www.haveyoursay.es.govt.nz. https://www.haveyoursay.es.govt.nz/