Climate and community activists have called for fare-free buses, trains and ferries, after “surprisingly cheap” estimates for the costs to halve public transport fares. \
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The Government said it will cost between $25 to $40 million to cut public transport ticket prices in half for three months. That’s led some to speculate that a fully funded public transport system could cost as little as an additional $200m per year.
But experts warn the three-month estimates are likely based on current passenger numbers, which are suppressed due to Covid-19 outbreaks. If people flocked onto public transport, that extra demand would push the costs higher.
