Public Transport Funding Review
New Zealand
Transfund introduced a Patronage Funding Scheme in October 2000 to encourage the development of new and enhanced passenger transport services in New Zealand. The aim of the Scheme was to provide a financial incentive to regional councils to grow passenger transport numbers by providing additional funding for every extra passenger carried, over and above an agreed "baseline" level.
The findings were used by Transfund in preparing a consultation paper on a Proposed Funding Scheme for Bus and Ferry Services, and will also be used to confirm areas of improvement in terms of data collection.
The following services were provided:
The main components of the Scheme are Patronage Growth Funding, Kick Start Funding and Commercial Trials. Transfund commissioned Maunsell to provide background information and analysis as an input to a "first principles" review of Transfund's passenger transport funding policy.
The study examined patronage growth trends in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, comparing these to factors such as population growth, changes in income, road congestion and fuel prices. It concluded that most of the growth could be directly attributed to passenger transport initiatives taken by regional councils, operators and territorial authorities (eg infrastructure improvements).
The following services were provided
- Project management
- Data gathering and close liaison with Transfund
- Detailed analysis
- Report preparation
