Feedback is being sought on a proposal to increase Opal single fares on Sydney's public transport by five per cent annually over the next four years so more discounts can be given to regular users.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) proposed the increase in December 2019 for train, bus, light rail, metro and ferry services.
IPART will set maximum annual fares from July 2020 to June 2024, and the state government will decide what will apply within those figures.
IPART Chair Dr Paul Paterson said the proposal annual five per cent rise in single fares for four years would give the government options to provide discounts to more regular transport users and off-peak fares to bus and light rail services without impacting the sustainability of services.
Options included:
- Extend the current discounts to more passengers, such as those travelling three or four days a week or those on low incomes.
- Integrate fares so passengers pay the same across bus, train, metro and light rail services so that passengers would no longer pay more to switch modes, and
- Extend current off-peak train fares to bus and light rail services.
Dr Paterson said, at present, fare revenue accounted for around a quarter of the cost of providing public transport.
The remainder was funded by taxpayers - equivalent to $4900 per household in 2018-19.
A public hearing will be held at IPART's offices on Tuesday, February 11, starting at 11am.
Feedback can also be provided through an online survey or a formal submission to the review via IPART's website.