Archive for October, 2006

Maroondah Leader: Commuters the winners in two zones

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 31st of October, 2006

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the policy announcements delivered by the Victorian Liberal Party and the ALP to abolish zone three:

TRANSPORT costs will be slashed for outer-suburban commuters, including many Maroondah residents, whoever wins the November election.

Both the Bracks Government and Liberal Opposition last week pledged to scrap Zone 3 and switch to a two-zone system next year.

Maroondah City Council, as part of the Eastern Transport Coalition, had campaigned endlessly for the abolition of zone three.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman and Maroondah councillor Alex Makin said the news was “a victory for the outer-east community”.

“It’s something residents in conjunction with the Eastern Transport Coalition were campaigning for,” Mr Makin said. “We welcome the Opposition announcement and the carbon copy released by the Bracks Government.”

Four years ago when the Opposition pledged to abolition zone three the Bracks Government, through its Transport Minister Peter Batchelor, claimed that “capacity constraints” meant that the policy was ‘unworkable’ (Libs promise fare cuts to outer areas, The Age, Nov 7, 2002. pg. 9). Like other claims of ‘capacity constraints’ (such as being unable to deliver the South Morang rail extension or Rowville rail line), it is clear that such constraints are purely fabricated to excuse inaction.

The Opposition is to be congratulated for taking the lead on seeking to abolish one of the gross inequities that had existed in the pricing of Melbourne’s public transport system.

Maroondah Journal: Zone cut boost for outer suburbs

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 31st of October, 2006

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the recent announcements to abolish zone three, released firstly by the Victorian Liberal Party and mimicked four hours later by the Bracks Government.

Public Transport users in the outer east will pay less next year after both major political parties pledged to scarp zone three - but the fight for better train and bus services continues.

While the removal of zone three addresses on the major pricing inequities of the public transport system, it is ultimately the level of service, such as the efficiency, frequency, reliability and availability of public transport that will ultimately result in higher patronage.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Alex Makin said Labor’s decision was a “complete U-turn” for the party which dismissed the idea at the previous election.

Train services and bus routes along main roads need to provide at least a 15 minute service frequency to ensure patronage growth. This is consistent which research which as shown that 15 minute service frequencies and an overhaul of bus routes are essential to achieving the goal of increasing public transport modal share.

“At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how you price the fares, waiting up to an hour for a bus can’t compete with car travel.”

Maroondah Leader: Libs’ free transport plan for children, students put on the grill

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 31st of October, 2006

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the Victorian Liberal Party’s plan to provide free public transport for children and students.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman, Maroondah councillor Alex Makin, welcomed the free public transport plan, but questioned how it would increase service levels.

“To drastically improve public transport patronage there must be an increased level of service, particularly in the eastern region,” Cr Makin said. “People cannot use public transport if it’s not available.”

While the plan has some merit in encouraging a culture of public transport usage (similar to how Walking School Bus provides a culture of encouraging walking) it is imperative that service levels are improved to ensure more frequent, readily available and efficient public transport services.

Maroondah Forum for People with Disabilities and Carers - Final Meeting for 2006

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 30th of October, 2006

Maroondah holds a quarterly forum to provide information and to discuss and resolve issues relevant to people with disabilities and carers. Monday’s forum provided an update on the Maroondah Mobility Expo (scheduled for Tuesday the 5th of December) and also provided advice on personal safety.

The Maroondah Mobility Expo, which has been organised through Scoot Wheel N Move, will provide information on using a scooter and organisations that provide support for independent living.

Maroondah’s Forum for People with Disabilities and Carers will resume in 2007.

Victory: Zone Three to be abolished

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 26th of October, 2006

This morning the Baillieu Liberal Opposition pledged to remove zone three public transport fares if elected into government. Four hours later Steve Bracks copied this announcement and said it too would scrap zone three.

As reported in The Age:

Public Transport Users Association vice-president Alex Makin welcomed the latest announcement, saying he believed it would encourage more people in Melbourne’s outer suburbs to use trains and buses.

“It has merit in that it tackles one of the biggest inequities in Melbourne’s public transport system,” Mr Makin told theage.com.au.

The existence of zone three, is an oddity that has existed only within Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and as a result meant that residents in Ringwood, Croydon, Scoresby and Dandenong were forced to pay more for public transport than residents in suburbs such as Hurstbridge, which are located further away from the CBD.

“At the moment you have lots of people driving to Heatherdale station from Croydon, Ringwood and Lilydale to avoid paying the higher fare,” Mr Makin said.

While the removal of zone three is a welcomed and one that groups such as the Eastern Transport Coalition have requested, the announcement must be reinforced by policies that improve public transport services. Ultimately people will not use public transport if services continue to be infrequent, unreliable and inefficient.

But Mr Makin said reducing fares for people in Melbourne’s outer suburbs had to be accompanied by policies that improved services, saying there was no point reducing the cost of tickets if there weren’t enough trains and buses to service demand.

This announcement has demonstrated the power of combined community and council advocacy. As recently as last week the State Government claimed that zone three could not be abolished due to apparent capacity constraints. The fact that the Bracks Government has now been forced to act has demonstrated the so-called ‘capacity constraints’ that have prevented rail and tram extensions is nothing more than a complete fabrication.