SEQ Fare Review Taskforce

[ozbob]

One of the FRT recommendations  was to eliminate all the anomalies.  Expect that will be done.

However if adjusting those leads to a more expensive outcome ( taking into account the new zones etc.) people will not be disadvantaged and they will remain for now.  Probably finally getting sorted when NGT rolls out.

[#Metro]

Fill in the survey on the TransLink website https://haveyoursay.translink.com.au/SEQ-Fare-Review

Also put a comment in about Bus Reform and Brisbane City Council if you can!

[ozbob]

Proposed fares ..



Diagramatic map of new 8 zones

>> https://haveyoursay.translink.com.au/SEQ-Fare-Review/documents/37380/download

[ozbob]

JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Fairer fares for South East Queensland

Fares will be slashed from next year for all zones of travel making it more affordable for commuters, in a major overhaul of public transport costs across South East Queensland.

Under the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer Fares package unveiled today, more than 93 percent of South East Queensland (SEQ) public transport users will save money with cheaper fares and a reduced number of travel zones.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her Government's Fairer Fares package, released in response to recommendations from the independent Fare Review Taskforce, ensures the maximum number of commuters in SEQ will benefit from a reduction in fares.

"Our Fairer Fares package delivers real cost of living relief to public transport users," the Premier said.

"Using public transport all over South East Queensland will be cheaper and commuters will pay lower fares to travel both short and long distances.

"Under the package, the cost of a single zone of travel in peak time will drop to $3.20, and each of the new larger zones cost will also be slashed.

"Today, we're also announcing that all fares will remain frozen to implement the savings and stay frozen for all of next year.

"My Government is serious about delivering fairer fares and lowering cost of living pressures for Queenslanders.

"As promised, we established the independent taskforce to lead a comprehensive review of the fare structure in South East Queensland including zones and discounts and our response represents our determination to ensure the maximum number of people save." 

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer FaresPackage endorsed the majority of recommendations made by the expert taskforce.

"This is the largest investment in public transport services in a decade since the rollout of the go card and integrated ticketing," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"It builds on the recommendations from the taskforce to deliver fare reductions right across South East Queensland."

Mr Hinchliffe said simplifying fare zones will benefit public users all across SEQ including Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands and Moreton Bay.

"Fewer zones means most public transport users will pay less because they won't be travelling through as many zones," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Modelling from the Department of Transport and Main Roads shows that this package will attract as many as 8 million new users to public transport a year.

"This is the equivalent of taking 7 million cars off our roads every year and fewer cars means less congestion across our local and major road network."

Mr Hinchliffe said commuters would enjoy savings across the South East Queensland network.

"Public transport users would have been slugged with 2.5 percent higher fares in January this year under the LNP's annual scheduled fare hike, however the Government announced in December last year they would keep fares frozen while the Fare Review was underway," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"As a Government we'll keep fares frozen to give us time to implement the Fare Review and pass on savings via the go card ticketing system.

"This means commuter won't pay any extra on fares this year and can budget ahead.

"The Government will also guarantee that fares will not be increased in 2017 when the major fare savings are passed on."

For more information about the fare change online, you can view the Taskforce report and the Government Response.

For more information about the fare reform or to have your say, visit the fairer fares website.

VNR for newsrooms (vision of commuters using public transport):

The key changes to SEQ's fare structure under the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer Fares package:

    Fewer zones: SEQ's 23 travel zones will be simplified to eight.
    Cheaper fares: Fares for all zones of travel will be slashed.
    Extending off-peak discount: Peak period won't start until after 6am in the morning to encourage earlier travel and give these users cheaper fares. The 20 per cent off-peak discount will now apply for all travel between 7pm and 6am, between 8.30am and 3.30pm Monday-Friday and all day on weekends.
    Kids go free on weekends: Children under the age of 15 will be able to travel free on the weekend on a child go card.
    Senior discounts: Seniors and pensioners will retain the 'One, Two FREE' travel
    8 and 50 for commuters: The Government will scrap 'Nine + FREE' and replace with 8 paid journeys and 50 per cent off subsequent journeys per week to deliver higher travel savings to more customers.
    Concessions for Queensland job seekers: TransLink will work with Federal Agencies so jobseekers on Newstart or Youth Allowance will be able to access concession fares from early 2017
    Concession fares for asylum seekers: In line with other states like New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, asylum seekers in Queensland will be able to access concession fares to use public transport from early 2017.
    New Fares Advisory Panel: The Government will establish a Public Transport Fares Advisory Panel to provide independent advice on future public transport fares, products and ticketing.

Some examples of savings under the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer Fares Package:

    An average Gold Coast commuter travelling between Robina and Brisbane city would save $1196.64 a year under the changes because their 15-zone trip would become a five-zone trip.
    A Gold Coast family travelling locally, with one parent commuting between Labrador and Robina and another travelling between Labrador and Southport, will save $1196.64 a year because these four and two-zone trips would both become single zone trips.
    Weekly commuters to Brisbane City from Goodna, Strathpine or Samford will save $889.92 and commuters from Morningside or Tarragindi will save $315.36 a year.
    A weekday commuter who travels a single zone, to and from work during peak period, will save $1.30 a week with '8 and 50' combined with the cheaper zone rates. Currently they pay $30.15 per week under 'Nine and Free'. With '8 and 50' and $3.20 for a single zone of travel they will pay less, only $28.8 per week.
    A commuter travelling on public transport during peak times from Goodna to Brisbane's CBD each weekday for work, currently pays $5.96 per trip to travel across five zones and in a week with 'Nine and Free' would spend $53.64 per week. Under the changes they will only travel two zones and pay $3.90 a trip and with '8 and 50' will end up paying $35.10 a week. That's a weekly saving of $18.54 with the cheaper zone prices and also '8 and 50'.


Attachment MediaAttachments/2016/pdf/FairerFaresSEQ.pdf

VNR for newsrooms (vision of commuters using public transport):

[#Metro]

Champagne, Champagne, Champagne for everyone!

[ozbob]

Sorry #teamgorort everyone is a winner except you lot!
> https://t.co/66IqnlILHq#qldpol
>> https://t.co/PGfb0q0yIS

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) June 11, 2016

[ozbob]

JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

New travel incentive means more commuters save with fairer fares

The Palaszczuk Government will accept the independent Fare Review Taskforce recommendation to scrap the wasteful '9 and free' scheme and replace it with '8 and 50' benefit so more public transport users ultimately save across the entire network.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said 85 per cent of public transport users never qualified for the savings loophole and subsidised free travel for 15 percent of users at a cost of more than $100 million since it was introduced.

"The '9 and Free' scheme only encouraged public transport users to game the system, it unfortunately failed to successfully pass on savings to a majority of regular public transport users or raise patronage levels," he said.

"In fact since '9 and Free' was introduced patronage fell by more than 2 million trips.

"This new incentive will broaden the discount so it applies to more people and benefits the vast majority of passengers on public transport.

"By spreading the savings more fairly, more Queenslanders will have an incentive to use public transport."

Mr Hinchliffe said instead of free travel after nine paid journeys, public transport users will receive a 50 percent discount on fares after eight paid journeys during a week.

"The reality is 85 percent of users were not even qualifying for free travel, meaning they never received a benefit," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"By lowering the fare price and offering half price fares, more than 93 percent of public transport users will pay less."

Background –

Facts about '9 and Free'

    Only 15 percent of public transport users qualified for '9 and Free' per week
    The go card 'Nine and Free' benefit will have cost taxpayers more than $100 million by the end of this financial year (2015-16).

Example of how '8 and 50', along with lower prices for zones will save commuters more than '9 and free':


    A weekday commuter who travels a single zone, to and from work during peak period, will save $1.30 a week with '8 and 50' combined with the cheaper zone rates. Currently they pay $30.15 per week under '9 and Free'. With '8 and 50' and $3.20 for a single zone of travel they will pay less, only $28.8 per week.
    A commuter travelling on public transport during peak times from Goodna to Brisbane's CBD each weekday for work, currently pays $5.96 per trip to travel across five zones and in a week with '9 and Free' would spend $53.64 per week. Under the changes they will only travel two zones and pay $3.90 a trip and with '8 and 50' will end up paying $35.10 a week. That's a weekly saving of $18.54 with the cheaper zone prices and also '8 and 50'.

[ozbob]

JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Sunday, June 12, 2016

New fare deal means kids go free on weekends

Weekends are set to be family 'fundays' on public transport in South East Queensland, with the Palaszczuk Government today announcing the new plan to let kids travel free using their go card all day Saturday and Sunday.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the new fare deal will make it cheaper for families to use public transport and enable children under 15 years old to travel free on bus, trains, trams and ferries.

"The family-friendly fare deals means all kids under 15 years old will be able to travel on public transport free of charge on weekends," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The new fare deal will benefit families and help them manage hip-pocket expenses."

Mr Hinchliffe said the new policy would encourage more families to use public transport on weekends and help build a positive culture of public transport use among young people in South East Queensland.

"For many families this travel discount will make it more affordable to use public transport on the weekend for a family outing," he said.

"It will also make it cheaper for families to give their kids early positive experiences on public transport on the weekend.

"The new travel discount will encourage more families to use public transport for visits to see family, or to go to cultural, sporting, music or art destinations around South East Queensland."

Under the existing fare structure, children aged between five and 14 years (inclusive) pay a standard concession rate of 50 per cent off-peak weekend fares.

Under the new fare structure, children aged between five and 14 years old (inclusive) will travel free at weekends with a child go card.


Examples of the savings with kids go free

(1)

A family of two adults and two children who live at North Lakes and catch public transport to South Bank for a day out on the weekend will save $13 dollars per return trip. Currently the trip is 6 zones, under the changes it will become 3 zones.

The family cost to do this trip at the moment is $32.08, under the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer Fares package it will now only cost $19.08. That's a saving of $13 per return trip for the family. Or a saving of $156 per year if you make that trip 12 times a year (i.e. once a month for 12 months).

(2)

A family of four (two adults and two kids) live in Robina and catch public transport to Brisbane on the weekend will save $29.76 per return trip. Currently the trip is 15 zones, under the changes it will become 5 zones.

The family cost to do this trip is $62.80 return. Under the changes this trip on a weekend will now cost $33.04 in total for return fares.

That's a saving of $29.76 per return trip for the family. Or a saving of $357.12 per year if you make that trip 12 times a year (i.e. once a month for 12 months).

(3)

A five person family who live in in Dutton Park and catch public transport to the Brisbane Central station will save $11.74 per return trip. Currently the trip is 2 zones, under the changes it will become a single zone trip.

The family cost to do this trip is currently $21.98 return. Under the changes this trip will now cost $10.24 in total.

That's a saving of $11.74 per return trip for the family. Or a saving of $140.88 if you make that trip 12 times a year (i.e. once a month for 12 months).

(4)

A family of six (two adults and four kids) who live in in Rosewood and catch public transport to Ipswich will save $17.28 per return trip. Currently the trip is 3 zones (travelling in zones 7 – 9), under the changes it will become a 2 zone trip.

The current family cost is $29.76 return. Under the changes, this trip will now cost $12.48 in total.

That's a saving of $17.28 per return trip for the family. Or a saving of $207.36 if you make that trip 12 times a year (i.e. once a month for 12 months).

[pangwen]

Good to see that the government stepped in to change the proposed 2 zone fare from $4.70 to $3.90. The increase could have had the potential to inadvertently(?) increase the fare for people taking short trips across a zone boundary.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Palaszczuk announces major public transport overhaul

[techblitz]

my congrats to the m-f 9-5rs/short zone travellers as well as the unemployed who are the clear winners.
That being said....the cost reductions are minimal if your travelling say 5 zones when you haven't made your 8 trips...less than a 10% reduction....must say I was hoping for better outcomes for the long distance non-frequents. More to be heard on that front I expect....

[verbatim9]

Seems pretty fair for the overall community especially now for job seekers

[Arnz]

Not bad thus far, although personally I would've put the longer trips up a little bit with the trade-off increasing the 20% off-peak/weekend discount to 25% (+50% frequent user discount after 8 trips) which means savings up to 75% off the peak one-way fare.

[SurfRail]

I'm very pleased.

About the only thing which seems to be missing in my eyes is concessions for HCC holders, which is important for consistency with the other jurisdictions.  Widening the concessions to the other groups is very welcome though.

[SurfRail]

One thing to clarify - what happens to "cross border" fares?  Currently, you get pinged another fare zone for getting off at the last stop on the 700/760/768/TX1 just into NSW.  Will these routes be entirely in Zone 6 now?

[ozbob]

One thing to clarify - what happens to "cross border" fares?  Currently, you get pinged another fare zone for getting off at the last stop on the 700/760/768/TX1 just into NSW.  Will these routes be entirely in Zone 6 now?

I will follow this up during the week.  You can also put feedback into https://haveyoursay.translink.com.au/SEQ-Fare-Review

[pangwen]

One thing to clarify - what happens to "cross border" fares?  Currently, you get pinged another fare zone for getting off at the last stop on the 700/760/768/TX1 just into NSW.  Will these routes be entirely in Zone 6 now?

According to the new fare estimation tool from Translink (http://jp.translink.com.au/fare-review), you will still get pinged another fare zone. Interestingly, my example trip appears to be one where you may be worse off under the reforms, by 1c if you travel during off-peak. That could just be a bug in the back-end system though.



EDIT: Actually, no, apparently 20% off $5.96 is currently $4.76 (5 zone off peak adult go card fare), but 20% off $5.96 after January 1 2017 will in fact be $4.77 - see https://haveyoursay.translink.com.au/SEQ-Fare-Review/news_feed/new-fares-and-zones. Could be some kind of change in the rounding policy.

[ozbob]

The Fare Review Taskforce Report is well worth reading. 

Available here > https://haveyoursay.translink.com.au/SEQ-Fare-Review/documents/37378/download

I would like to thank all members of the FRT for their effort time and committment.

Viz.

Mr Neil Cagney, Chairman, MRCagney (Chair)

Mr Neil Scales, Director-General, Department of Transport and Main Roads

Mr Jarrett Walker, Consultant, Jarrett Walker and Associates

Ms Sharon Boyce, Chair, Queensland Disability Advisory Council

Mr Mark Tucker-Evans, Chief Executive, COTA Queensland

Mr Trent Zimmerman, Deputy Chief Executive, Tourism and Transport Forum

Dr Matthew Burke, Associate Professor, Griffith University

And the support staff from TMR / TransLink

This has been a major exercise to come up with a fare structure that fixes most of the current issues, and sets it up well for transition to NGT.

No matter what is done not everyone is going to be happy.  The fact that 93% of users will be better off (based on real data) is significant. 

The Ministerial office would be grateful to be notified if you do pick up any real anomalies.

It was obvious that the fare path from 2010 was botched.  It has taken 6 years of sustained effort to get it sorted.

Onwards!

[pangwen]

For those interested, a more interactive zone map can be found at https://haveyoursay.translink.com.au/seq-fare-review-interactive-map. The PDF map, while good at giving you indicative zone extents lacks detail.

[ozbob]

^ thanks! 

[ozbob]

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
Sunday, June 12, 2016

Fairer fares for Logan

Logan commuters will see public transport fares slashed from next year under the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer Fares package.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said public transport will be simpler and fairer for commuters, making travel more affordable for the people of Logan.

"My Government promised to introduce fairer fares for public transport in South East Queensland," Premier Palaszczuk said.

"The Fairer Fares package ensures almost all Logan commuters will have cheaper fares and benefit from a range of incentives.

"We will continue the fare price freeze for the rest of this year, to allow implementation of the Fare Review, and in 2017."

Premier Palaszczuk said an average Logan commuter travelling from Yatala Twin Drive-in to Brisbane CBD will save $816.48 a year because their eight zone trip would become a three zone trip.

"Commuters travelling from Beenleigh Station to Brisbane CBD will save $565.92 a year as their seven zone journey becomes a three zone journey," Premier Palaszczuk said.

"Logan commuters travelling from the Logan Hyperdome to Brisbane's CBD will save $315.36 because their six zone trip will become a three zone trip.

"While commuters travelling from Kingston Station to Eden's Landing Station will also save $315.36 annually as they travel in a single zone instead of across two zones."

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the Palaszczuk Government's response to recommendations from the independent Fare Review Taskforce ensures the absolute maximum number of commuters benefit.

"Public transport fares need to be affordable, boost patronage and deliver a sustainable fare revenue stream to allow the network to grow," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"This relief package is the largest fare reform in a decade which will make fares fairer and lower the cost of living for many households."

Key changes to the SEQ fare structure from January 2017:

    Fewer zones: SEQ's 23 travel zones will be simplified to eight.
    Cheaper fares: Fares for all zones of travel will be slashed.
    Extending off-peak discount: Peak period won't start until after 6am in the morning to encourage earlier travel and give these users cheaper fares. The 20 per cent off-peak discount will now apply for all travel between 7pm and 6am, between 8.30am and 3.30pm Monday-Friday and all day on weekends.
    Kids go free on weekends: Children under the age of 15 will be able to travel free on the weekend on a child go card.
    Senior discounts: Seniors and pensioners will retain the 'One, Two FREE' travel.
    8 and 50 for commuters: The Government will scrap 'Nine + FREE' and replace with 8 paid journeys and 50 per cent off subsequent journeys per week to deliver higher travel savings to more customers.
    Concessions for Queensland job seekers: TransLink will work with Federal Agencies so jobseekers on Newstart or Youth Allowance will be able to access concession fares from early 2017.
    Concession fares for asylum seekers: In line with other states like New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, asylum seekers in Queensland will be able to access concession fares to use public transport from early 2017.
    New Fares Advisory Panel: The Government will establish a Public Transport Fares Advisory Panel to provide independent advice on future public transport fares, products and ticketing.

Mr Hinchliffe said the fare reform will not only make it more attractive for people to get out of their cars and catch public transport but it will also help ease road congestion.

"Modelling from the Department of Transport and Main Road shows this package will take 7 million cars off our roads every year with more people using public transport," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Simplifying 23 travel zones to eight will benefit all public transport commuters across South East Queensland because commuters will pay less for local travel within Logan as well as for longer trips.

"The Logan area is currently covered by around four zones but this will reduce to around two zones under the new fare structure.

"Many public transport commuters will save hundreds of dollars each year."

For more information about the Fairer Fares Package online, view the Taskforce report (external site) and the Government Response (external site).

To compare your current fare with the new fare system visit the Fairer Fares page (external site) and use the online fare calculator.

[ozbob]

Twitter

QLD Government Media ‏@QGovMedia 25 minutes ago

Fairer fares for Gold Coast http://bit.ly/1UKuhvE  #qldpol


============

Twitter

QLD Government Media ‏@QGovMedia 25 minutes ago

Fairer fares for Redlands http://bit.ly/1YiBdFQ  #qldpol

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Queensland Government 'reducing fare cost' under public transport overhaul

[techblitz]

city to browns plains current = 1-5 zones = 4.76 offpeak
city to browns plain proposed = 1-3zones = 4.77 offpeak

and take a look at the map....they have "conveniently" put the highly used grand plaza into zone 3...

[ozbob]

7 News --> Public transport fares reduced in Qld

Public transport fares will be cut and the number of zones slashed from next year in a major overhaul to southeast Queensland's fare system.

Children under 15 will also get to travel free on weekends, while off-peak discounts will be extended.

The state government announced the changes in its "Fairer Fares" package on Sunday following an independent review into TransLink's fares.

The number of zones will be slashed from 23 to eight and the cost of travelling in a single zone in peak time will drop to $3.20.

"In fact, 93 per cent of public transport users across the southeast Queensland transport network will receive cheaper fares under my government," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the remaining seven per cent were either those exploiting the "nine and free" scheme or travellers whose costs would remain the same.

The controversial system in which commuters travelled for free after their ninth trip will be replaced with a scheme where travel is half-price after eight trips.

Off-peak discounts will also be extended, with the morning peak period not starting until after 6am and the off-peak 20 per cent discount to apply to all travel between 7pm and 6am, and 8.30am and 3.30pm.

Jobseekers and asylum seekers will also get concession fares from early next year, while seniors will retain their discounts.

Mr Hinchliffe said the overhaul would cost the government $210 million in foregone revenue, with savings to be found from the state's transport department.

But he said the figure was based on a conservative patronage increase of 0.175 per cent.

"I think we will see a significantly better uptake of patronage as a result of these fairer fares," he said.

Public transport fares in southeast Queensland will be frozen for the remainder of this year, while fares in regional Queensland will be frozen for the next 18 months.

[ozbob]

city to browns plains current = 1-5 zones = 4.76 offpeak
city to browns plain proposed = 1-3zones = 4.77 offpeak

and take a look at the map....they have "conveniently" put the highly used grand plaza into zone 3...

Send it in as feedback. Anomalous.

[aldonius]

Yeah, precincts still need to be a thing. Look at Stafford Rd for an example of why!

In general they seem to have put the 1-2 boundary on the inner side of the old 2/3 precincts.

[pangwen]

city to browns plains current = 1-5 zones = 4.76 offpeak
city to browns plain proposed = 1-3zones = 4.77 offpeak

and take a look at the map....they have "conveniently" put the highly used grand plaza into zone 3...

The fare calculator gives me Grand Plaza as Zone 2 (when travelling inbound). I wouldn't just rely on the map as it doesn't effectively show precincts; the previous maps put Grand Plaza into Zone 6, whereas it was in practice within the Zone 5/6 precinct.



EDIT: Further testing suggests that the Browns Plains Grand Plaza interchange will be in the Zone 2/3 precinct - see below:

[ozbob]

So it seems Ok then in this case.

I have sort out some advice,  and can confirm that if a stop/station etc. is in a present zone eg. 5 then it should be in zone 2 in this case, in the new structure.  If it is not it is anomalous and needs to be reported.

[ozbob]

Worth reminding ..

http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares-and-zones/zones

Zone boundaries

Some bus stops and train stations are located on a zone boundary, so they have 2 zone numbers (for example, Burpengary is zone 7/8). This means when you travel towards Brisbane, you use the lower zone number to calculate your fare. When you travel away from Brisbane, you use the higher zone number.

[ozbob]

Twitter

QLD Government Media ‏@QGovMedia now

Fairer fares Moreton Bay http://bit.ly/24IPnjG  #qldpol

=============

Twitter

QLD Government Media ‏@QGovMedia 10s

Fairer fares for Sunshine Coast http://bit.ly/28tBk6k  #qldpol

=============

Twitter

QLD Government Media ‏@QGovMedia 10s

Fairer fares for Ipswich http://bit.ly/28tC3Es  #qldpol

[techblitz]

cheers ozbob/pangwen

its actually a sizeable discount for current zone 5 commuters being put into the new zone 2

[ozbob]

No worries TB.

For the record during the review I did raise the question of increasing the number of transfers allowed on a single journey on the go card.

It was not supported. Maximum of 3 transfers remains.



===============

http://translink.com.au/travel-with-us/bus-train-ferry-tram/travel-tips

go card transfer rules

Use your go card to touch on and off for each trip. Our system will automatically combine your trips into a single fare.

Train-to-train transfers only need to be touched off at the end of the journey.

    One-hour time limit between transfers
    Maximum of 3 transfers per journey
    Total journey length must be shorter than 6 hours
    Final trip must start within 3.5 hours of first trip

[STB]

I just have a slight niggle with the zone boundary in the Cleveland area where it'd still be a 2 zone journey for those travelling from Birkdale/Wellington Point to Cleveland which is a shopping and employment preceint.  I kinda feel that the Cleveland Shops (Middle St) and down to the ferry to Stradbroke should be a zone precient between proposed zones 2 and 3, so those coming from Birkdale/Wellington Point to Cleveland  pay for zone 2 and those coming from Victoria Point/Thornlands pay zone 3.

Overall though, I'm pretty happy with the proposed changes.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/fare-review-re-arranging-deck-chairs-on.html
The BrizCommuter word on the fare review.

A more in-depth analysis for various commuting lifestyles will be published later, probably tomorrow.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th June 2016

STOP PRESS: SEQ Fare Review Report Released!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers congratulates Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and members of the SEQ Fare Review Taskforce on the publication of their landmark Fare Review Taskforce Report and the Government's response.

Today, the SEQ Fare Review Taskforce Report has been publicly released. It is a landmark report. RAIL Back on Track is grateful that it was invited to be on the taskforce by the Queensland Government. The Taskforce landmark recommendations will set the stage for SEQ to have Australia's best public transport system.

In summary, the following taskforce recommendations have received Government support:

Place the inner City of Brisbane into just two fare zones.

Radically reduce the number of fare zones from 23 to just 8.

Extend all door boarding to all buses, where possible (similar to CityGliders, trams and trains).

Introduce a 50% discount after 8 paid journeys.

Free travel for children on weekends.

Extend concessions to Newstart and Asylum Seekers

Introduce a standard fare adjustment process. This will stop public transport fares being misused as pre-election votebait.

South-East Queensland was put into a death spiral of falling patronage, poor service and escalating fares. Fare setting processes became politicised and misused as votebait before elections. Poor advice was adopted about how increasing fares would reduce subsidy (it didn't). The need to direct Brisbane City Council to reform their outdated, inefficient and under-performing bus network that has added to the pressure to push up fares is now more acute than ever. Bus network reform is needed at near neutral cost, not a half-baked high cost intellectually fraudulent metro that simply does not stack up!

Comprehensive bus reform of Brisbane City Council's bus network, an example we have proposed here http://tiny.cc/newnetwork is required as the next step. This will complete and complement the landmark work done by the Fare Review Taskforce. It will ensure that people living in poorly serviced areas such as the Centenary suburbs, will actually be able to catch the bus, in addition to taking advantage of the new fare structure.

The final piece in setting the fare structure for SEQ absolutely right will be when the Next Generation Ticketing is introduced, hopefully around 2019.  Open payment and further ticketing options such as daily/weekly caps will then be possible.

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Reference:

https://haveyoursay.translink.com.au/SEQ-Fare-Review

[#Metro]

"Nine then free" replaced by "8 then 50%" - this move reduces the ability for rorting by longer distance commuters, but penalises heavy public transport users (including many students and young adults) who should be rewarded to get cars off roads. It may also penalise public servants who currently use their own go cards to get between meetings - good news for taxis.  The lack of zone based daily and weekly capping functionality in the go card system is an achilles heel that prevents are fair and equitable fare structure.

50% off approach is very generous. Sometimes one just has to be happy with that.

This is a hi-impact achievement of RBOT and The QLD Gov done well and done in circumstances that are not the best (hung parliament, glacial gov't).

[ozbob]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/fare-review-re-arranging-deck-chairs-on.html
The BrizCommuter word on the fare review.

A more in-depth analysis for various commuting lifestyles will be published later, probably tomorrow.

The data shows that 93% of users are better off, the rest were either early week gamers or those that end up with essentially the same fare costs.

The changes were not done by rubbing ones tummy and thinking hey, be great if we had 8 paid journeys and then 50%. The recommendations were well supported by detailed data, complex analysis and modelling.

As you said, we should be grateful that the Palaszczuk Government at least had the ' balls ' to take it on.

It is very difficult to achieve the perfect fare structure (is there one anywhere?) with the constraints for the present go card system.  Taking these things into account the results are much improved over the present mess.

[#Metro]

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without."
— Confucius, attrib.

Perfect is the enemy of good
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Opposition challenges government on fare review funding

The state opposition has warned of more taxes and cuts to south-east Queensland's public transport network following the Palaszczuk government's long-awaited release of it fare review.

The measures adopted as a result of the review would see fares cut across the network, which would be reduced from 23 to eight zones, from January next year.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said, based on "conservative" estimates of increased patronage, the changes would cost the government up to $210 million over the budget forward estimates.

Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the Labor government had to explain how that would be funded.

"Labor is good at giving with one hand and taking with the other," he said.

"Which hidden taxes, which service cuts, are going to be required to fund this program?"

Mr Hinchliffe said the government would be able to absorb the lost revenue within his department's existing budget.

"Within the Department of Transport and Main Roads, within a $55 billion budget over that forward estimate period, we'll find savings to achieve that $210 (million) forgone revenue out of this package," he said.

"Equally, let's note that that $210 million forgone revenue is based upon a very conservative patronage uptake."

Among the changes was the scrapping of the fare system that saw users travel free-of-charge after taking nine trips in a week.

Mr Powell took umbrage at Mr Hinchliffe's claims about commuters exploiting that nine-then-free system, which was introduced by the Newman government.

"The figures from several years ago showed that it was something like 0.6 of a per cent of Go Card users who may have been using it inappropriately," he said.

"What is interesting is that earlier this week, the nine and then free was used to demonstrate the cost of such initiatives, yet today we have a package that goes far beyond that.

"When the LNP brought these initiatives in, they were fully costed and we could tell you how they were going to be funded.

"The question for the Palaszczuk Labor government is where is the money coming from?"

As to whether the changes would see patronage increase, Mr Powell said the nine-then-free system showed that could well be the case.

"It is the hope of all governments to see patronage increase, but if that comes at the expense of taxes or service cuts, then that will ultimately lead to a decline,"  he said.

Mr Powell's LNP colleague in City Hall, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, was more welcoming of the government's announcement.

"We've been fighting for fairer fares to restore public confidence in our public transport network and remove congestion from our roads," he said in a statement.

"There is no doubt the consecutive 15 per cent fare increases by the previous Labor state government caused untold damage to patronage levels.

"As a council, we are doing a lot for Brisbane's public transport with Australia's most modern and accessible bus fleet and modern CityCat fleet.

"I welcome today's announcement of a streamlined fare and zoning system that will hopefully restore public confidence in public transport and lead to renewed growth in patronage and reducing congestion on our roads."

  Good on you Lord Mayor!!  Didn't get the LNP hysteria memo ..