Govt urban transport funds

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 23

Govt urban transport funds

Some of the $3.85 million in Government funds for Canterbury urban transport should be released soon, said the United Council urban transport committee

Councillors said that 25 per cent of the approved allocation was needed now. partly to help the Christchurch Transport Board with overdraft problems.

Mr M. G. Taylor, the board s genera] manager, has told the Government’s Urban Transport Committee that at least $1.73 million in grants were needed to cover budgeted expenditure. The actual grants will be greater than that, and the extra money will be used to improve public passenger services.

In the meantime, because the grant had not yet been received. the Transport Board had an extra overdraft in late June of $386,300. The interest was $lOOO a week, he said.

The board’s overdraft increases by about $33,500 each week that the Government grant is not paid. When it is. Midland Coachlines and the Lyttelton Borough Council (for the Diamond Harbour ferry) may also receive allocations. Boundaries The United Council has yet to decide on the boundaries of a regional urban transport area. Some outlying local bodies are reluctant to join such an area when they feel public transport benefits to them would be minimal. Cr Vicki Buck, this region’s representative on the Urban Transport Council, said: "From a sheer economic point of view. I would wonder at any councils staying out. When they are competing with the Hamiltons and Rotoruas of this world, the Rangioras and Kaiapois are not going to do very well."