Bus commuters on the South Coast could find their fares halved if draft recommendations come into force.
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A draft report on regional and rural bus fares from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) recommended substantial fare reductions.
This was because rural and regional bus commuters were paying higher maximum fares than those in Sydney for the same distance travelled.
On top of this, a higher proportion of regional commuters were travelling on concession or pensioner fares compared to those in urban areas.
The fare change would affect bus services from Kiama south - where Opal cards are not accepted - as Wollongong and Shellharbour buses are considered "outer urban".
The fares proposed by the draft report are up to 50 per cent lower than the current maximums depending on the distance travelled.
The report states they could save passengers up to 30 cents a trip on shorter distance journeys and up to $25 a trip on longer distance journeys.
"Public transport enables people to engage with their community and access essential services such as education, employment and health care," said IPART's Deborah Cope.
"We have proposed significantly lower fares, particularly for longer trips, to assist people to be an active part of their communities in rural and regional NSW."
Under the draft recommendations bus operators would be able to apply to Transport for NSW for permission to charge around 40 per cent more for peak services.
The report also recommended those operators providing on demand bus services could charge up to $5 extra.
This was to take into account "the additional service offered relative to a standard route service".
The draft recommendations are open for public feedback until October 30.
To view the report visit www.ipart.nsw.gov.au.
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
