Canterbury Regional Council (CRC, Environment Canterbury, ECan, the Buyer) is seeking a public transport operator to partner with us to deliver public transport services for the Timaru area using a combination of OnDemand Public Transport (ODPT) within the Timaru urban area, an interurban commuter service between Timaru and the rural township of Temuka, and three fixed route school services to provide students with access to Timaru schools.

A key objective for CRC is to improve how attractive and user-friendly public transport is in the region to get more people using our service, more often. We are seeking the following four outcomes for public transport in Timaru:

1. The public transport system connects people to where they want to go and provides a timely, attractive, and convenient alternative to private car travel.

2. The public transport system provides a high-quality experience that retains existing customers, attracts new customers, and achieves a high level of customer satisfaction.

3. Public transport funding is sustainable and supports system objectives while providing value to the community.

4. Public transport services that meet customer needs, benefit the wider community, and minimise environmental impacts are procured at a price that provides excellent value for money for customers and ratepayers.

CRC is seeking an experienced public transport operator to supply vehicles, drivers and operational expertise to deliver the ODPT and fixed bus services over a six-year contract term with the opportunity for a 3-year performance-based extension.

The successful operator will partner with CRC and the ODPT Systems Provider to build on the success of the ODPT trial service that has been operating in Timaru since 2020 (branded as MyWay by Metro), while also delivering the fixed timetable peak service between Timaru and Temuka and three school services.

Over time, it is expected that changes will need to be made to the services to accommodate changing demand patterns. This may require, for example, the full or partial introduction of a fixed timetable service in areas where demand exceeds the capacity of ODPT to provide a reliable service.

We are seeking an Operator partner who is adaptable and can work closely with CRC to respond to changing travel patterns