Consulting on a ten-year plan for public transport in Canterbury

From today, the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) is inviting people to make a submission on a refreshed plan for the region’s public transport network.

The draft plan contains a proposed new vision for public transport in Canterbury and outlines key priority areas such as improving our environment, growing patronage, accessibility, innovation and technology, and affordability.

The draft plan covers public transport for the region which includes services such as Metro, MyWay by Metro in Timaru, Total Mobility and Community Vehicle Trusts. It was developed in partnership with local councils who provide city and town planning, alongside the infrastructure required to deliver these services and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Within the draft plan, is a proposal for a new policy that would allow people to travel with domestic pets. In other cities in Aotearoa New Zealand trials of pets on public transport have been successful, with no issues and few complaints.

Conditions being proposed would allow adult passengers to bring a single pet on board, as long it is in an approved carrier at off-peak times (weekdays 9–3PM, and after 6PM, all-day weekends).

There’s also a proposal to lessen those restrictions in future to allow for leashed and muzzled dogs or increasing the limit to two pets per passenger.

Public consultation opened today and will run until 5PM on Thursday 24 October 2024. 

Have your say at ecan.govt.nz/pt4me