WRC endorses trolley buses for five more years by Lidia Zatorski, Civic Reporter
Trolley buses look set to trundle Wellington's streets for another five years.
Wellington Regional Council's passenger transport committee has recommended the council support trolley buses for another five years.
That is subject to negotiations with trolley bus operator Stagecoach about adopting the most effecient operation.
The WRC committee recognised the public support for retaining the 60 electric trolley buses, which cost city rate payers about $1 million a year more than diesel buses.
The current trolley bus contract expires at the end of June.
The regional council had suggested phasing out the trolley buses after the contract ended as their relative environmental benefits were reducing as new diesel buses met stricter emision and noise standards.
That made the cost of running the trolley buses harder to justify.
Two months ago, a review found Wellington groups were divided over the whether the city's trolley bus fleet should stay.
Public transport manager Anthony Cross said a workshop of councillors favoured a further medium term contract for the service.
WRC will now have to find the extra money, which it had not budgeted for, in the next few years.
A report from Mr Cross to the committee said it may be possible to fund some of the extra cost through a general fare increase on Stagecoach services.
The company is believed to be considering a fare increase - the first since May 1990. Other options includes rates and using any transport reserves.
The primary beneficaries of the trolley buses are retailers from Courtenay Place along Lambton Quay and those living near trolley bus routes.
Regional ratepayers pay about $2.9 million a year to Stagecoach to run the trolley service.
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