Subscribe to RSSAuckland’s PT Use Hits 36yr High
The number of people using Auckland public transport continues to rise.
ARTA confirms that public transport has just seen the highest 12 month patronage figure since 1974.
Earlier, June statistics for bus and train patronage pushed the figures for 12 months total patronage beyond the magical 60 million mark - 60,618,292 boardings. That was 3.4% (2 million boardings) higher than the 2008/09 financial year.
July figures have now been calculated and have pushed that total further.
There was a record 60.8 million trips from August 2009 to July 2010.
Total patronage for the last 12 months to July 2010 is 60,802,730.
That’s even higher public transport usage than the carless days of 1979/80 when motorists were forced to use their car on only selected days of the week because of the oil crisis of the time.
Those latest figures for the 12 months to July:
- 47,711,026 total boardings on buses
- 4,537,324 ferry trips
- 8,554,380 rail journeys
- Rail has seen an increase of 11.55% compared with the 12 months to July 2009
- The Northern Express bus patronage hit 1.8 million, an increase of 20.1% compared with the 12 months to July 2009.
- Northern Express patronage for July 2010 alone was 162,493
ARTA’s Chairman, Rabin Rabindran said in the last five years patronage figures for rail have also more than doubled.
That was “an extremely encouraging statistic, “particularly in an environment where, with KiwiRail, we have been upgrading the rail network and redeveloping stations.
“The Northern Express’ popularity may be attributed to its faster journey times because of its uncongested corridors between the North Shore and downtown Auckland, maximising its patronage potential.
“Buses form the back bone of Auckland’s public transport and these extremely encouraging patronage figures are testament to the ongoing service and infrastructure developments being implemented by ARTA and our operators.”
7 Comments
So just to get this correct. Steven Joyce is throwing billions into the motorway network at a time where vehicle journeys are decreasing. However, with public transport and continuing growth he, in all his “informed wisdom”, is not wanting to commit to more PT development. “No” to Airport Rail he says.
As a Minister of Transport he makes no logical sense. Then again, perhaps the donors to his political party are pulling his strings?
So an average of more than 1 million boardings per week! Excellent stuff.
As I said before - good stuff. But wait until we finally get over past records and create new ones!
Over the coming 4 weeks will see maybe one of the busiest period with infrastructure being completed.
The Manukau extension opening
The Manukau/Mangere bridge duplication completed
The southbound lanes of Newmarket viaduct opening
New Lynn transport interchange completion
Onehunga line with 3 stations opening.
It won’t be until 2012 when three more motorways will open.
The Northern express and Rail proves what a decent alternative to cars can achieve if money is spent in the right areas.
Take note Minister of Transport or at least the next one!
And yet there is still an attitude of ‘who cares about railways when we can spend even more money on motorways that continue to pollute Auckland’
This is such good news. More investment = more growth.