Submissions

To: Otago Regional Council 
Date: May 2025

Purpose

This submission’s primary purpose is to advocate for the continued evolution of Otago's public transport system towards being fully accessible and inclusive for everyone, especially disabled people. DPA aims to ensure that the plan prioritises accessibility, inclusivity, and safety of services, expands community transport options, and maintains affordability for transport-disadvantaged populations, while navigating central government funding cuts.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA welcomes the opportunity to submit on the ORC's Draft Public Transport Plan, noting that 7.4% of Otago’s population (36,000 people) identifies as disabled and that disabled people experience more transport problems than non-disabled people. DPA praises ORC for several positive transport initiatives over the last decade, including the introduction of $2 flat fares, transitioning Total Mobility (TM) to cards, increasing the TM subsidy to 75%, and rolling out accessible zero-emission electric buses. DPA acknowledges the pressure on ORC due to central government public transport funding cuts and reluctantly agrees with proposed base fare increases for adult Bee Card passengers.

DPA supports the plan’s focus on providing useful, safe public transport services that prioritise transport-disadvantaged people. They recommend that priority be accorded to improving the accessibility, inclusivity, and safety of all public transport services throughout the ten-year life of the plan. DPA raises ongoing safety concerns at the Dunedin Bus Hub and expresses satisfaction that ORC continues to deliver disability responsiveness training to bus drivers and plans to extend it to TM service providers, seeing this as a long-overdue move to improve service quality. DPA also supports the plan’s environmental sustainability focus, recognising the disproportionate impact of climate change on disabled people.

DPA strongly supports the extension of community transport services to smaller towns and rural areas, which have historically been underserved and where accessible public transport is vital for disabled and older people's independence. They recommend building financial incentives into funding for community transport providers to enable 24/7 service provision in provincial communities, covering costs for driver training, vehicle modification, and other operational expenses. DPA requests a freeze on all bus fares for the next two financial years following this year's increase, with any additional fare box recovery subsidised by ORC revenue, to support low-income earners, including disabled people. DPA supports the re-introduction of fare zones and charging more for longer trips, provided the increases are minimal (e.g., 50 cents extra per zone), and supports retaining free fares for children aged 5-12.

Regarding Total Mobility, DPA welcomes the extension of TM training to small passenger service drivers and ORC's commitment to funding new vehicle fit-outs and retaining the 75% fare subsidy. They are pleased that TM services will be offered in Alexandra and recommend extending TM to other major provincial centres over the plan's timeframe. DPA expresses concern about the quality of service from some TM registered providers in Dunedin, citing poor wait times. They recommend making more accessible information available to all TM users about their service choices.

Key Recommendation/Finding:

That community transport services are adequately funded to provide 24/7 transport services in provincial communities.

Supporting Statement 1:

DPA notes that provincial centres like Oamaru, Alexandra, Balclutha, Wānaka, and Cromwell have been historically underserved by accessible public transport, significantly impacting the ability of disabled and older people to participate fully and maintain independence in their communities.

Supporting Statement 2:

Maintaining 24/7 mobility passenger services is challenging even in larger cities, but DPA believes it could be crucial and more achievable in provincial centres where alternative small mobility passenger service providers or taxi companies may not operate to the same extent.