Bell Block and New Plymouth district bus fares are to increase by up to 13 cents. The increase is to cover the climbing costs of public transport. Adult fares paid for with cash won’t cost any more, but adult smart card fares will increase from between seven to 13 cents. Child and concession fares, whether paid for by smart card or cash, will increase by up to 10 cents. In New Plymouth adult smart card fares per section will increase from $2.60 to $2.67, a 2.7 per cent increase. The largest increase is for a smart card adult fare from New Plymouth to Waitara, which goes from $4.50 to $4.63, or a 2.9 per cent increase. A council report on the proposals stated the fare increase could result in a loss of 7000 passenger trips per year, but this would probably be absorbed by the general growth of patronage. The increases to bus fares are the first since June 2010. Fares increases are to take effect as soon as possible.
