"Review of Wellington Regional Council Trolleybus Policy
"Currently, the Wellington Regional Council's 10 year financial planning document, Facing the Future 1998-2007, states that the Council's funding of trolleybus services will be phased out over a five year period after the current contract expires in 1999. In withdrawing the extra subsidy for the trolleybus services, the Council asumes that they will be replaced by modern diesel buses, which are considered to be almost as emission-free as trolleybuses. Prior to making a final decision on this issue, the Council has [sic] reviewing the policy and will undertake public consultation later this year. As part of the review process, we are contacting key community stakeholders seeking their views on this issue.
"Trolleybuses have distinctive advantages over diesel buses: they have almost zero-emissions (most NZ electricity is hydroelectric) and they offer a more comfortable ride to users (due to less noise and vibration and smoother acceleration). Two significant disadvantages of trolleybuses are the limitation on routes caused by the need for overhead wires and the extra cost imposed by the provision of overhead wires and their maintenance. Trolleybuses themselves are also much more expensive to purchase than are diesel buses. Given these factors, how does your organisation view the following:
"1. Are the advantages of the trolleybus services worth the extra cost (currently about 12%) incurred tp provide the service?
"2. Asuming the current level of spending on passenger services remains, which is more preferable: (1) to continue with rthe same level of trolleybus services or (2) to cease the extra funding for trolleybuses and provide a higher level (e.g. more buses and new routes) of diesel bus services? What factors affected your view?
"3. The current troleybuses are estimated to have 5-8 years, in most cases, before they need replacing. These buses are not as accessible to some users as the new low-floor buses. If a trade off was required between improved accessibility and the environmental advantages of the trolleybus, what would you prefer?
"4. If a decision was made to continue trolleybus services in Wellington, it is quite likely that the cost of the service will go up over the next five years as trolleybuses need replacing and as wires are maintained and upgraded. How best could this extra cost be met:
a) through an increase in fares (up to 20%)
b) through an increase in rates (say about $5 to $10 per year per
household)
c) through an increase in petrol tax and road user charges (about 2c per
litre).
"5. If Wellington City only had diesel buses instead of the current mix of trolley and diesel buses, would this lead to increased bus use, decreased bus use or no change in the use of buses? Why?
"Please fell free to make any other comments you believe are relevant. I thank you in advance for your assistance with this review and look forward to receiving your organisation's input."
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