Auckland's transport agency has finally found a way to reduce its fleet of cars after two years of attempts, including a costly but little-used shuttle bus for its staff.
Auckland Transport last year axed the 11-seater staff shuttle which often ran empty and failed to make hoped for savings. Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall
The agency hopes to cut 40 cars from its 174-strong fleet, with the first 20 already out of service.
Auckland Transport said it will save $1 million by merging several fleets it runs and encouraging sharing and more use of public transport.
The reduction programme hit a bump last year, when the agency was criticised for putting on a shuttle van for staff travelling between its two main offices, insisting bus and trains were too slow.
The shuttle was poorly used over seven months and was eventually scrapped, with a total cost of $140,000.
Auckland Transport said staff were responding well to not having as many cars at their disposal.
"Ratepayers have been asked to take quite a hit in Auckland to fund transport, and we've got to do our share as well, and I think staff understand that," said chief financial officer Richard Morris.
Graph showing the spend per month by Auckland Transport staff on designated staff HOP cards. Photo: Graphic: Auckland Transport
It has released figures which show the monthly spend by staff, using corporate versions of the AT HOP public transport card, are rising steadily.
Public transport spending has risen by more than 90 percent from $3452 in June last year to $6881 last month.
Auckland Transport said the savings would be one-offs, as a similar number of kilometres are likely to be driven using fewer vehicles, but there will also be savings in needing fewer carparks.
