Transfund Grants ARC $166,000 Towards Rideline Website

Transfund New Zealand has announced funding approval for a public transport information website to complement the Auckland Regional Council’s Rideline call centre service.

Transfund Chief Executive Martin Gummer said this was in response to a customer survey that revealed 54 percent of respondents would use such a service.

“Our contribution of $166,000 over three years is part of an initiative to encourage greater use of public transport. It comes on top of $1.93 million worth of additional funding already committed to the Auckland region by Transfund. This funding is being used mainly for additional or new bus services. We consider better access to public transport information is important in encouraging more people to use these services.”

“We are delighted that Transfund is supporting Auckland with funding for the Rideline website,” said ARC Transport Committee chairman Les Paterson.

The Rideline website is planned to be launched in May 2001. It will allow people 24-hour access to quality public transport information for the first time in Auckland.

“Technologically the website will be light years ahead of any other public transport information service in New Zealand. The website will offer an entire journey planner, from home to destination, right down to which bus or train stop to get off at and how to get to a connecting service. It will be a vastly better service than offering people a timetable on the web,” said Councillor Paterson.

“Our Rideline call centre, while providing an excellent service, is only open from 7am to 8pm weeknights and Saturdays and from 8am to 6.30pm on Sundays,” said Cr Paterson.

ARC research shows that providing quality public transport information leads to more people using public transport. Last year, the Rideline call centre handled 1.2 million calls and patronage across bus, train and ferry services across Auckland rose on average by 7 percent.

“We expect a 24-hour Rideline website providing quality public transport information, will help further increase public transport use in Auckland,” said Cr Paterson.

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