| Integrated ticketing of Transport Networks a Bad Idea |
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| Monday, 21 April 2008 19:39 | |
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Media release (immediate) 13th February 2008 "US practice shows no need for legislation to achieve integrated ticketing of Transport Networks" said Owen McShane, Director of the Centre for Resource Management Studies today. He went on to explain: "In yesterday's speech to Open this Parliamentary Session, the Prime Minister announced: Two important transport bills now before Parliament will be given priority for passage this year: * the Public Transport Management Act, to give regional councils the ability to get better integrated passenger services and better value for money. I look forward to the not too distant day when Auckland passengers will be able to buy one ticket which takes them across bus, rail and ferry services. * the Land Transport Management Amendment Act, providing for a regional fuel tax to speed up infrastructure investment and for improvements to regional and national transport planning. Both are obviously the result of lobbying from the Auckland Regional Council, and its associated organisations, which have long wanted to bring the public transport networks under central control. One of their reasons is the need to achieve integrated ticketing across the public transport systems serving the region. No one denies that integrated ticketing is a great idea. We have all seen how the "integrated charging" of Credit Cards and Direct Debit cards has promoted trade in those sectors. Of course we did not need legislation forcing centralised management and control of very retail store and restaurant in the country to make this happen. The technology drove the whole network, which now works all round the world. I can use my credit cards and debit cards to pay for public transport systems in most countries in the developed world. Similarly, Smart Cards now available in the US, not only enable integrated ticketing across the bus, rail and ferry services but can be extended to taxis, shuttles and the other private and public sector operators in the market, and to allow road tolls to be paid without the need for toll booths or other collection points. You just wave your Smart Card - equipped with a small antenna and microchip - as you drive by. Currency conversion is automatic too. For the story of one recent installation go to: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20080211_Transit_lines_seeking_smartest_smart_card.html The main advantage of such Smart Cards is that they enable the ready conversion of Bus Lanes and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes into High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes which greatly increase mobility over the whole system. Buses and high occupancy vehicles can enter HOT lanes, but any vehicle can enter the lane on paying an appropriate and variable toll, and the toll climbs rapidly as the lane approaches capacity. Hence the lane operates at maximum loading but never reaches the point where traffic grinds to a halt. So anyone who really needs to get to a destination such as a hospital or an airport can pay a toll and guarantee full speed travel. Sadly, our transport planners are dedicated to "getting people out of their cars and into public transport" rather than increasing overall mobility. So the Smart Card will probably not appeal. Integrated ticketing which is limited to ARC controlled contractors will only delay the introduction of this new technology to New Zealand by fragmenting the market. HOT lanes and Smart Cards are spreading rapidly over the United States. Soon, visitors to New Zealand will expect to find these facilities here. We should be ready for them." ENDS |
