Bus group policy push for one-ticket ride to fit all across the state

THE Tasmanian Bus Association has called for a one-ticket system to be used on public and private buses across the state.

Metro Tasmania operates 637,000 timetabled and school services and supports the one-card system for use on public and private buses. Picture: Nikki Davis-jones

THE Tasmanian Bus Association has called for a one-ticket system to be used on public and private buses across the state.

The one-ticket policy is part of a wide-ranging industry document released yesterday that calls for a central transport authority to oversee changes necessary to transport Tasmania's ageing and geographically diverse population, TasBus general manager Geoff Lewis said.

Mr Lewis said the 16.3 per cent of Tasmanians aged 65 and older is expected to increase to 23 per cent by 2032.

He said half of the Tasmanian population lived outside Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie and required regional bus services.

"An ageing and expanding population is going to provide plenty of challenges for Tasmania's passenger transport network," Mr Lewis said.

There are more than 295,000 cars in the state with 80 per cent of all trips taken by car.

TasBus wants to double the number of passenger trips taken by bus in Tasmania by 2020.

Mr Lewis said a central transport authority was needed to regulate and oversee the delivery of bus services across the state.

"At the moment we only have the government who regulate the services," he said.

Contract certainty was another key element to the TasBus policy document.

"Existing operators should have first rights on option for renewal if they have met agreed performance criteria, creating greater incentives to perform and provide stronger investment certainty," Mr Lewis said.

The Tasmanian bus industry has more than 1000 buses and employs almost 800 people. The private bus industry services 501 contracts and moves 30,000 students daily.

The Tasmanian Government-owned Metro Tasmania operates 637,000 timetabled and school services.

Mr Lewis said private operators were not allowed to pick up passengers on Metro routes.

A one-ticket or card system would allow for all passengers to be picked up by all bus operators along shared routes.

"It's a win-win for everyone, we get more people on the buses and no-one misses out if the buses are crowded," Mr Lewis said.

Metro, a TasBus member, supports the one-card system.

[e-mail]