Greater Hobart mayors say slashing bus fares is the key to increasing public transport usage

Greater Hobart’s mayors have doubled down on their call for public transport fares to be cut, saying it would create a “net societal gain”. LATEST >>

The four greater Hobart mayors are standing by their joint call for bus fares to be slashed, believing it could be the key to encouraging further uptake of public transport and reducing traffic congestion.

The Greater Hobart Strategic Partnership – which consists of the Hobart, Glenorchy, and Kingborough councils – has used its 2022-23 state budget submission to call for a 30 per cent reduction in bus fares in the greater Hobart area, free travel for seniors during the non-peak period (9am-3pm), and the establishment of a fare-free zone in the City of Hobart.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the inner-city council area had the lowest use of public transport for people travelling to work and school of any capital city and a drop in bus fares would boost patronage.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds. Picture: Chris Kidd

She said bus fares in Hobart had increased by two and a half times CPI between 2010 and 2019.

“It’s very likely this made some people reassess the cheapest way to get to work,” Ms Reynolds said.

“Providing more and better bus and ferry services is the quickest and cheapest way for Hobart to ease congestion, provide choice for commuters, reduce household transport costs and reduce the carbon emissions.”

Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas said in the northern suburbs, securing affordable transport to and from work in other parts of the city was a barrier to young and unemployed people entering or re-entering the workforce.

“Like so many people in Glenorchy and greater Hobart, I want to see less cars on the road and less traffic congestion, but my bigger motivation is increasing accessibility to public transport for our vulnerable and disadvantaged community members,” she said.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman believed cutting bus fares would create a “net societal gain”.

“People spend a lot of time in their cars in congestion – they get frustrated,” he said.

“And the challenge here is to ensure that public transport is not only cheaper but it’s amenable, it’s attractive.”

Kingborough has the lowest uptake of public transport of all the greater Hobart council areas at just 5.5 per cent – and Mayor Paula Wriedt said the solution wasn’t new roads and car parks.

“With an efficient, high-frequency, integrated public transport system that is cheaper than taking a car, commuters will make the shift,” she said.

The budget will be handed down on May 26.

Minister dismisses calls to cut bus fares

Transport Minister Michael Ferguson has thrown cold water on a push for bus fares to be slashed in the greater Hobart area, saying the state government already “heavily subsidises” public transport.

The Greater Hobart Strategic Partnership – made up of the four greater Hobart councils, Hobart, Glenorchy, Clarence, and Kingborough – has used its 2022-23 state budget submission to call for a 30 per cent reduction in bus fares, free travel for seniors during the non-peak period (9am-3pm), and the establishment of a fare-free zone in the City of Hobart.

Mr Ferguson said the government “invites and considers budget submissions, as is the case every year”. But he appeared to dismiss elements of the councils’ proposal.

Transport Minister Michael Ferguson. Picture: Richard Jupe

“It should be noted that the government committed $81.5 million in public transport at the 2021 election to increase the attractiveness of public transport including more buses and shelters, more park and rides, and common ticketing,” he said.

“The Tasmanian Liberal government now heavily subsidises public transport in Tasmania – to the tune of $100 million. This includes significant concessions to ensure those most in need have access to essential services.

“Concessions are provided to students, seniors, Tasmanians on low incomes, those with a disability, and those who have served their country or community.

“Making things ‘free’ really means less funding in the system for new public transport initiatives.”

Mr Ferguson added that the Hobart City Deal was the “agreed framework for more support of public transport”. The City Deal includes a new transit lane for the Southern Outlet.

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Call to slash bus fares to cut commuter cars

GREATER Hobart’s four major councils want Metro bus fares slashed by 30 per cent and more frequent services introduced to increase patronage and reduce car use.

The Hobart, Clarence, Glenorchy and Kingborough councils are also asking for a fare-free zone in Hobart and free bus travel for seniors in non-peak times.

In a bold transport vision, the councils have made four requests to the state government in a budget submission including a bid for $2m a year for a commuter cycling network, funding for disability compliant bus shelters and an expansion of the Derwent ferry to Glenorchy and Kingborough.

The submission says the Hobart City Deal Greater Hobart Transport Vision aims to reduce the number of single-occupant drivers on the regular commute to work to 50 per cent from 62.6 per cent.

The councils want the number of people using public transport to go to work to increase by 10 per cent from the current base of 6.4 per cent.

They say this can be achieved by reducing bus fares to increase patronage, increasing frequency of services, and reducing waiting times and decreasing transit times.

“Reducing current public transport fares by 30 per cent will stimulate demand, especially in areas where fares are not competitive with the running cost of a private motor vehicle,” the submission says.

“This proposed reduction will be self-funding as the increased revenue at the lower discounted fare will be offset by new patronage in response to associated service improvements and reductions in transit times.”

The greater Hobart councils want Metro bus fares slashed by 30 per cent. Picture: Chris Kidd

It argues that off peak fares need to be further decreased to attract people away from peak-hour services and that seniors, who have more travel flexibility, should be allowed to travel free in off-peak hours.

“In addition, passengers in the City of Hobart travel short distances, experience particularly high fares per kilometre, up to three times higher than other council areas,” the submission said.

“As such there is a strong case for a further reduction of fares in the City of Hobart.”

The four councils argue that the cost of free seniors non-peak travel and a fare-free zone in Hobart would cost $300,000 a year.

They also want an increase in the frequency of bus services to reduce waiting times where there appears to be latent demand and a decrease in transit times.

The overall operating cost of implementing such measures, they say, would be between $7m and $8m year.

The councils are also calling for an expansion of the River Derwent ferry services. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The submission says a key focus to reduce traffic congestion is to improve cycling connectivity and accessibility so people replace short and medium-length car trips with bicycle trips.

It argues that the one-off $2m from the state government for a cycling network is not enough and should be $2m a year.

The four councils also want bus stops and shelters upgraded to the highest disability standards.

“Tasmania has the highest populations of people with disability and most aging population, yet the public transport infrastructure is the most undeveloped of any capital city in Australia,” it said.

The government should make the Derwent ferry service permanent and investigate expanding it to other locations, the councils argue.

“With impending upgrades to the Tasman Bridge, we see this as a unique time to achieve sustained modal shift to ferries, with a higher frequency ‘Brisbane-style’ ferry service between the eastern and western shores of Hobart.”