Marlborough’s bus fares are likely to increase for the first time since the inception of the Blenheim service 20 years ago.
The council’s assets and services committee approved the draft proposal at a meeting on Tuesday, and heard that the fares needed to be increased due to a requirement from the Government.
A 20% increase would lift the two Blenheim bus routes from $2 to $2.40 for adults and $1 to $1.20 for children. The Picton bus route would increase from $4 to $4.80 for adults and $2 to $2.40 for children, each way.
Multi-model adviser Charlotte Campbell-Lamerton told the committee the Government’s National Policy Statement for Land Transport 2024-34 said road controlling authorities needed to address the escalating maintenance costs across the sector.
