I’ve got two main wishes for public transportation in Wellington1: real-time information and integrated ticketing. And within a hairs-breadth of my birthday (yesterday), there is motion on both fronts.
Metlink and Greater Wellington Regional Council are seeking feedback on use and expectation for real-time information. I’ve already filled it out and suggest that everyone within the region does, regular PT user or otherwise. If we’re going to implement a system, it should at least meet our needs. There are so many benefits that from the user point of view, it’s hard to lose, though.
While following the links, I saw another little news entry on Metlink. They are trailing a combination train/bus ticket from September through December. It’s a far cry from actual integrated ticketing, but the notion is starting to spread. I don’t know if Snapper activation will may the process any easier. So far, it seems limited to Go Wellington buses, and I think that the problem is more political than technical anyway. We can only wait and see.
1 There are more than two, but these are at the top of the list. Actually, light rail is on the top of the list, but that’s a much different battle.
