Latest news with #AndrewNoone
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Children's Bus Fares Being Re-Introduced
Children's fares will be reintroduced and adults will pay slightly more to use the buses in Otago from September. Otago Regional Councillors today agreed to raise fares for adults and end free fares for 5- to 12-year-olds. From late September, adult fares will rise from $2 to $2.50 (with a Bee card) and 5- to 18-year-olds will pay a $1.50 fare in both Dunedin and Queenstown. Public and Active Transport Committee Co-Chair Andrew Noone says, 'This was a difficult decision to make, knowing the impact it will have for people. We are balancing the requirements from central government to increase the proportion of public transport funding from things like fares, rather than rates or government funding, along with community expectations.' 'Community feedback on the Regional Public Transport Plan shows 89% of submitters want us to retain free child fares. We will be outlining our disappointment that the policy we have to work within is not flexible enough or fit for purpose to consider local conditions, especially regarding child fares,' Cr Noone said. Councillors agreed to write to the Minister of Transport, Minister of Education and Associate Minister of Education to express concern about the unintended consequences of raising child fares to meet private share which could potentially affect school attendance rates. These decisions are part of the Otago Regional Public Transport Plan review. Other key decisions Moving to a zone fare structure in the future was also approved. Further analysis and modelling will be carried out and there is no timeframe for this change yet. The Council supports public transport connectivity within Otago and will support investigations into community transport, with the timing and scale of any future community transport programme to be decided in future Council meetings. Some regional upgrades will not happen due to co-funding gaps, but the Council is committed to finding ways to improve connectivity options for Ōamaru, Balclutha and Central Otago.
Otago Daily Times
25-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Free bus fares for kids axed
Photo: ODT Files The days of a free ride for children on Otago buses are over. Councillors today voted to end free fares for 5- to 12-year-olds in Dunedin and Queenstown. Children will have to pay $1.50 to ride the bus from late September. Adult fares will rise from $2 to $2.50 (with a Bee card). The Otago Regional Council said in a statement the change was "a difficult decision to make, knowing the impact it will have for people". Community feedback on the Regional Public Transport Plan showed 89% of submitters wanted free child fares retained. Public and active transport committee co-chair Andrew Noone said the government required councils to increase the amount of public transport funding from fares. "We will be outlining our disappointment that the policy we have to work within is not flexible enough or fit for purpose to consider local conditions, especially regarding child fares,' Cr Noone said.
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Bus service on demand
Otago Regional Council (ORC) is launching a new public transport service operated by Go Bus (a subsidiary of Kinetic) for Mosgiel on Monday, June 30. Orbus On Demand will offer a different way for people to travel. It will operate within the Mosgiel, Wingatui, East Taieri and Kinmont areas using a wheelchair-accessible 22-seat electric bus. The service will replace the Mosgiel loop service (Routes 80 and 81), which ends at 6pm on Friday, June 27. The new on-demand bus service will run on weekdays from 8am to 6pm. People can book any time via the Orbus On Demand app or by phoning ORC Customer Services weekdays from 8am to 5pm. The app is free to download from the App Store or Google Play. Orbus On Demand is not a door-to-door service; it is a rideshare service where passengers may be joined by others during their trip. There are nearly 100 pick-up/drop-off points available; some are marked bus stops, and some are not. The Orbus On Demand app or the customer services team will direct people to the closest pick-up location within the service zone. ORC Public and Active Transport Committee co-chairman Andrew Noone said, in a statement, Orbus On Demand aimed to add convenience and provide wider coverage for bus users in the area. This was something residents asked ORC for during its Long-Term Plan consultation. "This represents a new era of public transport. It means no parking worries and hassle-free trips to essential services like medical and community centres or visiting friends and family across town," Mr Noone said. A fleet of 13 new electric buses servicing the Mosgiel Dunedin route, also operated by Go Bus, will also be launched on June 30, although some buses started running on the route earlier this month. The fleet includes six large 75-passenger capacity buses, introduced to increase capacity during peak times and allow for further bus-use growth in Mosgiel. The launch of the electric Orbus On Demand service is the final step in moving all Mosgiel buses to zero emissions, enabling ORC to deliver cleaner, more sustainable public transport for the region. Go Bus chief operating officer Ben Barlow said it was proud to work alongside the council to deliver the new service. "It represents a forward-thinking approach to public transport in the region," he said. "It's great to be part of a solution that's not only convenient but also aligned with ORC's wider goals around accessibility and sustainability." On demand bus service The Mosgiel, Wingatui, East Taieri and Kinmont on-demand bus service begins at 8am on Monday, June 30, and will run on weekdays from 8am to 6pm. To book, download the Orbus On Demand app or call 0800 672 8736 on weekdays, 8am-5pm. Visit — APL
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Scoop
Orbus On Demand: A New Electric Rideshare Service Debuting In Mosgiel
Press Release – Otago Regional Council The service is replacing the Mosgiel loop service (Routes 80 and 81), which ends at 6pm on Friday, 27 June. The new on demand bus service will run weekdays from 8am to 6pm. Otago Regional Council (ORC) is launching an innovative new public transport service operated by Go Bus (a subsidiary of Kinetic) for Mosgiel on Monday, 30 June. Orbus On Demand offers a different way for people to travel. It will operate within the Mosgiel, Wingatui, East Taieri and Kinmont areas using a wheelchair-accessible 22-seat electric bus. The service is replacing the Mosgiel loop service (Routes 80 and 81), which ends at 6pm on Friday, 27 June. The new on demand bus service will run weekdays from 8am to 6pm. People can book any time via the Orbus On Demand app or by phoning ORC Customer Services weekdays from 8am to 5pm. The app is free to download from the App Store or Google Play from 16 June. Orbus On Demand is not a door-to-door service; it is a rideshare service where passengers may be joined by others during their trip. There are nearly 100 pick-up/drop-off points available; some are marked bus stops, and some are not. The Orbus On Demand app or the Customer Services team will direct people to the closest pick-up location anywhere in the service zone. (see map below). Co-chair of Otago Regional Council's Public and Active Transport Committee Andrew Noone says Orbus On Demand aims to add convenience and provide wider coverage for bus users in the area, which is something residents asked ORC for during ORC's Long-Term Plan consultation. 'This represents a new era of public transport. It means no parking worries and hassle-free trips to essential services like medical and community centres or visiting friends and family across town.' A fleet of 13 new electric buses servicing the Mosgiel – Dunedin route, also operated by Go Bus, will also be launched on 30 June, although some buses started running on the route earlier this month. The fleet includes six large 75-passenger capacity buses, introduced to increase capacity during peak times and allow for further bus-use growth in Mosgiel. The launch of the electric Orbus On Demand service is the final step in moving all Mosgiel buses to zero emissions, enabling ORC to deliver cleaner more sustainable public transport for the region. Ben Barlow, Chief Operating Officer, Go Bus, says: 'We're proud to be working alongside Otago Regional Council to deliver this innovative new On Demand service. It represents a forward-thinking approach to public transport in the region. 'It's great to be part of a solution that's not only convenient but also aligned with ORC's wider goals around accessibility and sustainability.'
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Scoop
Orbus On Demand: A New Electric Rideshare Service Debuting In Mosgiel
Press Release – Otago Regional Council The service is replacing the Mosgiel loop service (Routes 80 and 81), which ends at 6pm on Friday, 27 June. The new on demand bus service will run weekdays from 8am to 6pm. Otago Regional Council (ORC) is launching an innovative new public transport service operated by Go Bus (a subsidiary of Kinetic) for Mosgiel on Monday, 30 June. Orbus On Demand offers a different way for people to travel. It will operate within the Mosgiel, Wingatui, East Taieri and Kinmont areas using a wheelchair-accessible 22-seat electric bus. The service is replacing the Mosgiel loop service (Routes 80 and 81), which ends at 6pm on Friday, 27 June. The new on demand bus service will run weekdays from 8am to 6pm. People can book any time via the Orbus On Demand app or by phoning ORC Customer Services weekdays from 8am to 5pm. The app is free to download from the App Store or Google Play from 16 June. Orbus On Demand is not a door-to-door service; it is a rideshare service where passengers may be joined by others during their trip. There are nearly 100 pick-up/drop-off points available; some are marked bus stops, and some are not. The Orbus On Demand app or the Customer Services team will direct people to the closest pick-up location anywhere in the service zone. (see map below). Co-chair of Otago Regional Council's Public and Active Transport Committee Andrew Noone says Orbus On Demand aims to add convenience and provide wider coverage for bus users in the area, which is something residents asked ORC for during ORC's Long-Term Plan consultation. 'This represents a new era of public transport. It means no parking worries and hassle-free trips to essential services like medical and community centres or visiting friends and family across town.' A fleet of 13 new electric buses servicing the Mosgiel – Dunedin route, also operated by Go Bus, will also be launched on 30 June, although some buses started running on the route earlier this month. The fleet includes six large 75-passenger capacity buses, introduced to increase capacity during peak times and allow for further bus-use growth in Mosgiel. The launch of the electric Orbus On Demand service is the final step in moving all Mosgiel buses to zero emissions, enabling ORC to deliver cleaner more sustainable public transport for the region. Ben Barlow, Chief Operating Officer, Go Bus, says: 'We're proud to be working alongside Otago Regional Council to deliver this innovative new On Demand service. It represents a forward-thinking approach to public transport in the region. 'It's great to be part of a solution that's not only convenient but also aligned with ORC's wider goals around accessibility and sustainability.'
