Off-peak fares extension

Press, 2 April 1988, Page 8

Off-peak fares extension

Off-peak fares on Christchurch buses are now available in the evenings and at week-ends again.

Since August, 1986, the off-peak fares on Christchurch Transport Board buses have been available only between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Last month the board decided to extend the offpeak fare schedule to all week-ends, public holidays and after 6 p.m. on week 'days. The; concession .means that adults pay half the normal fare during these times.! Children are not entitled to the, cheaper fares ■ as they already travel half-fare.

The extended off-peak schedule began yesterday, but the fare structure will change again on Monday ; with the introduction of - the ] Urban Transport i Levy.;

The levy, applied where the C.T.B. buses run, will be collected by the Canterbury United Council i 4-

and redistributed to the Transport Board and other local transport areas.

People who live in areas previously unrated by the C.T.B. but now included in the levied area will have a drop in their existing fares.

Those who live outside the C.T.B. rating area and between the Waimakariri River and the city side of Lincoln and Lyttelton, wiir incur the new levy at the full rate. Their fares will be reduced by half. People who live between the Waimakariri and Ashley rivers, and in the areas in and round Lincoln and Lyttelton, will pay the new levy, but at the lower rate. Their bus fares will be reduced about 25 per cent. Those in the present C.T.B; rating area will pay the Urban Transport Levy instead of rates to the Transport Board. Bus fares in this area will not change.