Manukau Mayor Wants Single Transport Ticket For RWC

Manukau Mayor Len Brown is calling for a single ticket system saying it’s the missing link in the integrated ticketing announcement.

He especially wants one in place by the time the Rugby World Cup happens in 2011.

The mayor welcomes the news that the integrated ticketing is moving ahead but says a  “single ticket system is the missing link that will pull together all of Auckland’s public transport and make it easier for people to use.”

“The growing numbers on buses and trains shows that if we provide a good service people will use it. But it also needs to be simple, one ticket for a journey instead of a complicated experience involving separate tickets for different buses, trains and ferries.

“Someone who lives in Howick and works in Newmarket wants to be able to catch the bus, ferry and train to work with just one ticket or swipe card.”

Brown, who is standing to be Auckland’s first supercity mayor, congratulated ARTA on its efforts to make integrated ticketing happen, saying the authority had invested a significant amount of time and effort into making it happen.

“I’m glad that the government has agreed to help fund the initiative. They already have a preferred tenderer, so hopefully contract negotiations can be finalised quickly and work will begin soon.

“I’m also interested to see that NZTA sees the Auckland system as the first step towards a national ticketing programme. It will make it easier for integrated ticketing systems across the country.”