The Public Transport Board will consider 25.1. New payment zoning for the link area
The public transport board of the Jyväskylä region will meet on Thursday, January 25.1.2024, XNUMX to decide on Linkki local transport issues.
The most important thing on the agenda is the payment zone reform required by the expansion of the area of jurisdiction. Starting in 2024, the Linkki public transport authority area includes seven municipalities. In addition to the original Linkki municipalities, i.e. Jyväskylä, Laukaa and Muurame, public transport services are now also organized for Äänekoski, Hankasalmi, Toivakka and Petäjävete.
At its meeting, the board also decides on the spring 2024 meetings. The proposed meeting dates are Wednesday 21.2, Thursday 25.4 and Thursday 30.5.
Public transport payment zones in the Jyväskylä region
The pricing of public transport tickets in the Jyväskylä region is based on the payment zone model, which covers Link's area of jurisdiction. The current payment zone model applies to the old authority area, i.e. Jyväskylä, Laukaata and Muurame, and in it the area is divided into four zones A–D. The zone model has been in use since the Waltti ticket and payment system was introduced in Jyväskylä's Linkki local transport in 2015.
As a result of the MAL agreement between the municipalities and the state regarding land use, housing and transport, the expansion of the public transport authority area was clarified in 2021. As a result of the survey, four municipalities in the region decided to join the Linkki public transport authority area, as new ones
as Hankasalmi, Petäjävesi, Toivakka and Äänekoski municipalities. For this reason, the payment zones must now be extended to the entire increased authority area.
The Public Transport Board receives a preliminary proposal for a new payment zone model. The proposed model is based on the zoning survey completed in autumn 2023 and the zoning model comparison made on its basis. Statements on the matter will be requested from the municipalities of the authority area on 13.2. by, and the Public Transport Board will decide on the zone model at its meeting on 21.2.
The starting point for the payment zone models has been a combination of Link's existing zones and the previously used Central Finland ELY Center zones A–E. The goal has been to create a zone model that takes into account the goals of the Link to the Future 2030 development program in the entire expanded area of jurisdiction. The report presents four alternative zone models and estimates of their suitability and effects on box office collections.
The public transport board is presented with option 3B of three payment zones as the zone model to be chosen, where the zone boundaries generally follow the municipal boundaries. A model with few zones is seen as user-friendly and easy to adopt. A smaller number of zones clarifies the ticket system and reduces the number of ticket variations. The model also follows the zone models in use in other urban areas and is therefore easy to understand by travelers visiting the area. Among the alternatives, the model best supports the maintenance of market-based traffic, which is seen as important for the economy of public transport. Thus, public transport ticket prices can be considered affordable even in the areas of the new Linkki municipalities.
In the zone model 3B presented to the board, there are three zones. Unlike the starting level zone model (= a combination of the five zones of Link and the ELY center), zones B and C and D and E have been combined. In the model, Jyväskylä is located in three zones (A, BC, DE). Laukaa and Muurame to one BC zone and Petäjävesi, Toivakka and Äänekoski to one DE zone.
The people of Toivakka have been able to travel with Waltti tickets at C-zone prices for several years thanks to a mutual service agreement between Toivakka municipality, Link and the ELY center. The ticket products will remain the same in connection with the change, but due to Toivakka's placement in the DE zone, the price of the ticket for the Toivakka–Jyväskylä connection will increase somewhat. When traveling from Hankasalmi, Äänekoski and Petäjävedelta, all Linkki transport Waltti tickets will be used. Compared to the current situation, it will bring significantly more ticket options and cheaper ticket prices to those traveling in these areas.
The agenda of the meeting with attachments has been published on the website of the city of Jyväskylä at https://julkinen.jkl.fi/ktwebbin/dbisa.dll/ktwebscr/epj_asil_tweb.htm?+bid=15987. The zone model report with maps can be found in appendix 6 of the case. The agenda materials are in pdf file format.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Service manager Kari Ström, phone +050 60943 XNUMX, kari.strom[a]jyvaskyla.fi
News published, modified 23.1.2024 at 15:05