Dear Wellington Regional Council,

I am interested in understanding the supporting information and justification for the GWRC "Better Metlink fares consultation" currently out for consultation (http://www.gw.govt.nz/better-metlink-far...) to support a possible submission due by the 18th of September 2017.

The Better Metlink fares consultation includes a report called "Proposed variation to fare policies in the Regional Public Transport Plan 2014 (variation 3) - Supporting documentation and statement of proposal" (http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Consultatio...) with the stated purpose of " set out the nature of changes we are looking to make to the PT Plan; and secondly, describe the fare initiatives that we propose to bring from July 2018".

This Statement of Proposal Report includes Appendix D that provides some detailed analysis of each of the proposed changes including the following sections:

A)
"3. Review of the current fare policies in PT Plan
3.1. Fare review process
...
The review was undertaken to re-examine the high-level policy for fares set out in the PT Plan, including fare structure, fare pricing, transfers between vehicles, operators and modes, and policies on concessions, including new initiatives such as a tertiary student concession. It also considered options for rationalising fares in preparation for new ticketing systems and options (including fare or rate increases) to fund specific fare initiatives.

Key stakeholders were consulted and a reference group was established in the early stages of the review to test ideas and guide the process. The process involved a detailed long list and short list evaluation ..."

1) Can I please have a copy of all GWRC meetings and/or workshops documentation since January 2016 where the Rail Monthly Passes was considered and/or decided not to be changed including the meeting agenda, information provided to the meeting and meeting minutes ?

2) Can I please have a copy of any analysis and/or information on usage of the Rail Monthly Passes such as the total number of passes by line & zone and also the average number trips are made per month per user ?

3) Can I please have a copy of any estimates held on the patronage impact and revenue impact of discontinuing the Rail Monthly Pass ?

4) Can I please have a copy of any estimates held on the patronage impact and revenue impact of reducing the discount currently applied to the Rail Monthly Pass ?

B)
"General 3% fare increase
Description
We propose increasing fares by 3 per cent from July 2018.
...
Reason
We need the extra revenue to help cover the cost of other fare changes, and also to ensure fare revenue contributes sufficiently to the cost of providing public transport (55-60 per cent)."
...
Patronage impact: -0.8% Revenue impact: +$2.3 million"

5) Can I please have a copy any report or analysis that details the Fare Recovery ratios for the option for the proposed 3% Increase and the ratios if there was no fare Increase ?

6) Can I please have a copy of the actual Fare Recovery calculations for the option of no 3% Increase and for the proposed 3% Increase ?

7) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a -0.8% Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

8) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a +$2.3 million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

C)
"Free bus transfers
Description
This will apply to customers who use Snapper and tag on within 30 minutes of tagging off their previous bus.
...
Patronage impact: +0.4% Revenue impact: -$2.4 million"

9) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a +0.4% Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

10) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a -$2.4 million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

11) Can I please have any and all information on the number of "customers in Wellington city who use the three-zone maximum fare" ?

D)
"25% off-peak discount
Description
This discount will apply to adults using Snapper or 10-trip rail passes. Off-peak fares apply between 9am and 3pm and after 6.30pm weekdays and all day weekends and public holidays
...
Patronage impact: +2.6% Revenue impact: -$3.1 million"

12) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a +2.6% Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

13) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a -$3.1 million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

E)
"25% off-peak discount
Description
This discount will apply to adults using Snapper or 10-trip rail passes. Off-peak fares apply between 9am and 3pm and after 6.30pm weekdays and all day weekends and public holidays
...
Patronage impact: +0.2% Revenue impact: -$0.7 million"

14) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a +0.2% Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

15) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a -$0.7 million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

F)
"50 per cent discount for all school children
Description
All school children will receive this discount, whether using a child Snapper or paying cash. The change will reduce fares for those travelling shorter distances (1 to 5 zones). Those travelling longer distances (6 to 14 zones) already receive a 50 per cent discount.
...
Patronage impact: +1.0% Revenue impact: -$0.7 million"

16) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a +1.0% Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

17) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a -$0.7 million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

G)
"Free bus connections to trains when using a rail monthly pass
Description
We currently offer free bus connections for Kapiti and Wairarapa rail monthly passes for travel to and from Wellington Station. We propose extending this to monthly passes for Porirua, Tawa, Johnsonville and the Hutt Valley.
...
Patronage impact: +0.9% Revenue impact: -$0.4 million"

18) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a +0.9% Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

19) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a -$0.4 million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

H)
"Move Porirua zone boundary north
Description
We plan to move the Porirua zone boundary northwards so that zone 5 includes Titahi Bay, Waitangirua, Ascot Park and most of Papakowhai.
...
Patronage impact: +0.2% Revenue impact: -$0.4 million"

20) Can I please have a copy of any submissions made to implement this zone boundary change ?
21) Can I please have a copy of any other submissions for zone boundary changes received by the GWRC but not being proposed to be changed including the reason why this change was not included in the Fare Review ?
22) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a +0.2% Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

23) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a -$0.4 million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

I)
"Discontinue 30-day bus passes
Description
We propose discontinuing 30-day bus passes. Free bus transfers will provide cheaper fares for most passengers.
...
We expect minimal changes to overall patronage and revenue."

24) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a minimal Patronage impact for this proposal including, if available, the changed number of passengers and the patronage changes by zone and/or mode (both percentage and actual numbers) ?

25) Can I please have the background calculations that support the estimate of a minimal million Revenue impact for this proposal including, if available, the revenue changes by zone ?

If the requested information is held in electronic form, I would prefer it was provided in its complete and original electronic format. I would also prefer that all communications with respect to this OIA request be via the FYI web site.

Please feel free to communicate on any issues with providing the requested information.

Yours faithfully,

Tony Randle

Dear Helen Plant,

I have just received the GWRC letter outlining that the GWRC will not provide the Fare Review Consultation background information until the 22 September.

I would note that I discussed the provision of this Fare Review information with the GWRC Officer who was compiling it at the Fare Review public meeting on Tuesday, 12 September 2017. In this discussion the officer outlined that most of the information has already been sourced but some further work was required. I asked if the information already sourced could be provided in an interim release and highlighted that I was especially interested in the Fare Recovery Ratio calculation used to justify the fare increases and the transport model spreadsheet information that holds the patronage and revenue changes for the various proposed fare changes. The GWRC transport officer said that not only could most of the information be provided on time but he agreed that this information would be provided to me today.

Can I please ask that the response information already compiled by the GWRC be provided immediately in an interim release as agreed with the GWRC Officer on Tuesday 12 September ?

Finally, I have requested this information to support a possible submission on the GWRC Fare Review public consultation but submissions are due by the 18th of September ... before the requested information will be provided by the GWRC on the 22nd of September. Can I also ask for a time extension on the provision of a written submission to Monday, 25th of September so that I can use the requested information to support the points outlined in a possible Fare Review submission ?

Yours sincerely,

Tony Randle

Dear Suzy Du,

An Oral Submission is requested and the first preference is for a Session 1 timeslot with the 2nd preference being for a Session 2 timeslot.

Also I note the GWRC has not provided any of the requested information by it's own deadline of the 22nd of September. I now have no time to review any provided information before I must provide a writen submission to the GWRC Fare Review on the 25th.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Randle