Bus patronage across Canterbury was 3.5 per cent lower in the second half of 2019 compared with the same period the year before.

Canterbury authorities have dropped their goal of 20 million annual bus trips by 2020 as public transport use declines in Christchurch.

The service, run by regional council Environment Canterbury (ECan), is to be overhauled in a plan that will contribute to a planned 9.8 per cent rates increase – almost double what was previously forecast.

The number of bus trips across Greater Christchurch and Timaru decreased by 3.5 per cent from July 1 to December 31, 2019, compared to the same period the year before, driven by decreased patronage in Christchurch.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF ECan is proposing a 9.8 per cent average rates rise.

Patronage in Waimakariri increased by 1.2 per cent and in Selwyn by 4.3 per cent in the last four months of 2019, compared to the same period the year before.

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ECan declared a climate emergency in May 2019. One of Christchurch's largest emission sources is transport, and getting people to use public transport is seen as key to reducing this.

JOHN MCCRONE/STUFF ECan senior public transport manager Stewart Gibbon says the patronage decreases are "driven by the slower than expected regeneration of the CBD". (File photo)

Generation Zero member Cam Bradley said the bus patronage decreases were a shame but not surprising.

It showed those who had been using the bus were "actively moving away", which was telling of the quality of the service offered.

Authorities had been good at setting goals to reduce climate change, but were lacking when it came to taking action, Bradley said.

DAVID WALKER/STUFF Overall Canterbury bus patronage has gone down due to less use in Christchurch, despite it increasing in the Selwyn and Waimakariri regions.

Senior public transport manager Stewart Gibbon said the 20 million trips goal was superseded by a target of 36 per person every year by 2024 – the equivalent of about 18 million trips a year.

In the 2018-19 financial year, there were just under 14 million trips taken – a number patronage has hovered around since 2013-14, despite population increases in Christchurch.

Gibbon said the decreases were "driven by the slower than expected regeneration of the CBD".

ECAN/SUPPLIED A map of the existing and proposed core bus routes outlined in the Canterbury Regional Public Transport Plan.

There had been fewer transfers between services due to the relocation of Avonside Girls', Shirley Boys' and Unlimited high schools resulting in more direct public transport access for students.

The closure of Homestead Lane at Canterbury University had also affected patronage at stops affected by the route change, Gibbon said.

The increases outside the city were due to a rapid service from Rolleston that launched in 2018, new services to Darfield and Leeston that began in 2019, and population growth in both districts.

PROPOSED RATES HIKE HIGHER THAN FORECAST

ECan's draft annual plan 2020-21, to be discussed by councillors on Thursday, is proposing an average rates increase of 9.8 per cent, up from the 5.5 per cent previously forecast.

The increase is so ECan can build reserves for responding to climate change and for civil defence, and due to increased spending on public transport.

ECan is forecasting operating costs of about $200 million in the 2020-21 financial year, of which about $120m comes from rates.

The long-term plan had budgeted for about $110.7m in rates revenue, but the annual plan proposes to increase this to about $121m. Much of this comes from a $5.7m increase in rates towards public transport.

ECan approved a new regional public transport plan in December 2018 that will introduce more routes and increase service frequency over the next few years.

The plan aims for an emissions-free fleet by 2030, though ECan would not accept proposals from bus operators that only want to use electric vehicles.

The public can give feedback on the draft annual plan on ECan's website from Monday until March 25.