Auckland Transport (AT) is expanding its Fareshare scheme, a programme designed to help businesses subsidise their employees' public transport costs.

This development offers a win-win situation for businesses and Aucklanders alike.

Previously trialled, Fareshare proved a resounding success with both employers and staff.

Now, any Auckland business with at least five employees can join the scheme.

This provides companies with a valuable perk to attract and retain talent, while also contributing to sustainability goals.

Genesis Energy, an early adopter of Fareshare, highlights the challenge of transitioning to a new location with limited car parking.

Fareshare, says George Higgins-Smith, Fleet, Transport and Travel Manager at Genesis Energy, "helped staff transition to the new...location without using their car."

Moreover, using public transport has a significant environmental impact.

Genesis Energy employees using Fareshare have already clocked up over a million kilometres on public transport, resulting in a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

"We have calculated this...to equate to a reduction of close to 127 tonnes of CO2 emission," says Cathy Bebelman, Chief Scientist at AT.

This reduction is comparable to the carbon sequestered by nearly 27,000 Titoki trees in a year, or the emissions of 53 standard cars driven for a year in New Zealand.

AT is committed to making public transport a more attractive option.

They're investing in improvements to ensure it's a convenient, safe, and reliable way to get around Auckland.

This, in turn, will benefit everyone by reducing road congestion and travel times, not just for public transport users, but for drivers as well.

"It's an attractive employee benefit scheme and affordable for any size business," says Richard Harrison, General Manager Growth and Optimisation at AT. Businesses only pay when their employees use the scheme, making it a cost-effective option. Additionally, subsidised public transport through Fareshare is exempt from fringe benefit tax, adding to its appeal.

GoSee Travel is another company that participated in the Fareshare trial.

Employees found the process straightforward, with an information session from AT's Travelwise advisors to explain the scheme and help them plan their commutes using public transport.

"Registering to Fareshare was simple," shared a GoSee Travel employee. "The discount is great; it makes getting to work much more affordable." They added that Fareshare has encouraged them to use public transport more often, saving money on car journeys.

The Fareshare scheme offers businesses the flexibility to choose between five or seven-day travel passes at subsidised rates of 25%, 50%, or 75%.

These passes are loaded onto AT HOP cards, allowing travel on Auckland's bus, train, and ferry services.

Employees pay the discounted fare, while businesses are billed monthly for the additional amount they contribute.

"We would like to see more businesses offering Fareshare," concludes Richard Harrison.

By encouraging more people to use public transport, the scheme has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and create a more sustainable Auckland.

For more information on Fareshare, visit the Auckland Transport website.