SUBMISSIONS
Otago Regional Council's Annual Plan
The Otago Regional Council is now consulting on our bus service (as well as lots of other things too).
What do you think?
Read our thoughts; then see below for tools to help you make a submission.
re: Transport: pages 055-057 of the Draft Annual Plan.
Specifically:
- the Level of Service: “Provide an appropriate level
and quality of passenger transport service in Otago” - the Target Measure of Success: “Patronage Growth… [for] Dunedin [of] 1%"
Introduction
Public transport is the great solution to traffic congestion and increased roading costs; and provides a significant solution toward the concerns of climate change and peak oil. In times of economic hardship, public transport also allows those on low and middle incomes to remain mobile on a daily basis.
Currently, there are those that argue public transport in Otago is under-used, and many find the stock of large, smoky buses difficult – not quite the “green”, light, rapid, frequent, and accessible vehicles they would prefer.
Coherence
There are also those who claim there is a lack of coherence in public transport policy (most notably an opinion writer in the ODT in the lead-up to last year’s local body elections); with one TLA (the DCC) responsible for roading (cars, cycles, pedestrians, and traffic flow) and another (the ORC) for the provision of buses (routes, timetables, and fleet).
In all of this the ORC’s target of an “appropriate level and quality” for its passenger transport service is laudable.
Patronage growth
Unfortunately the TMS set for it (patronage growth) in no way provides assurance that the demand for “appropriate” and “quality” service will actually eventuate. Patronage growth is subjective, and relates only to past performance. If past performance has not been all that it might be, then this target measure will be next to useless.
As there is some debate in the community (and ORC has only to ask
the DCC how many submissions its annual plan process receives in
regards public transport for a guide) as to whether the performance
of public transport in
the region has been anything like itmight be; the chance that the
current TMS is redundant, is high.
Moreover, such a modest increase in patronage (1%) must be
considered an extremely low-lying fruit, given that all the economic
indicators suggest that patronage should be growing strongly (all
other things being equal):
family incomes are stretched, the price of fuel is at or near
historic highs, and people are becoming more and more aware of
climate change issues.
Market research
A better target success measure, and one that might provide the ORC with rich and valuable information streams as to the best future shape of public transport in the region, would revolve around market research.
I was taught, early in my career, that the success to any tradable venture lay in -
1) finding out what the market wants and
2) selling it to them
3) at a profit.
Proposals
Council is asked to consider implementing a TSM that rates the satisfaction of ratepayers (not just current passengers).
Council is asked to consider undertaking a market research project amongst current and potential users of public transport as to their desired quality, nature, timing, routes, pricing, and other elements of the public transport in the region.
— Laura Black, Chief Executive, The Methodist Mission
Submissions are now closed
The deadline was 5pm on Monday 2 May 2011.
Submission tools
> READ Make a Difference - our guide to getting your message heard
Submission forms:
(links to the ORC website)
Draft Annual Plan Submission form 2011-12 (PDF - use this version
for handwriting)
Draft Annual Plan Submission form 2011-12 (Microsoft Word - use this version if emailing)
