The Melbourne Transport Forum (MTF), is a grouping of local Councils and community organisations, involved in advocating for public transport improvements.
The MTF has launched a series of online polls through its pt4me2 campaign, which aims to highlight public transport issues across Metropolitan Melbourne. The first of these surveys, aims to gauge community views on rail stations, with respondents choosing the worst stations in Melbourne.
With 4000 respondents to the survey, Ringwood has been rated as the second worst rail station within Metropolitan Melbourne, second only to Richmond, which serves as a busy junction for Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern rail network.
The Maroondah Leader has reported on the results of the survey and the implications for Ringwood Station:
Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said the station’s low ranking was not a surprise.
“It is well known that the station is not disability discrimination act compliant,” Cr Makin said. “What is surprising is how poorly regarded it is to all of Melbourne.”
Many respondents stated that Ringwood Station is difficult to access and perceived to be unsafe. The steepness of the ramps at Ringwood Station means that it fails disability compliance standards. Furthermore the Station fails to function as an integrated transport interchange, through difficult pedestrian, bus and bicycle access.
“When you compare how many people must pass through Richmond compared to Ringwood it shows just how severe issues at the Station are.”
While the State Government has committed to redevelop the bus interchange there has been no funding announcement towards the essential redevelopment of the Station itself. Ringwood, as a Central Activities District, and junction to the Belgrave and Lilydale rail lines, needs a transit interchange that is safe, accessible and integrated with pedestrian, bicycle, rail and bus facilities.