Tag: ptua

Maroondah Leader: Point of no slick churn

Posted on by alex

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) is a community based organisation that promotes improvements to public transport.

I served as the founder and Convenor of the Outer East Branch until 2008, forming the branch to provide local advocacy on public transport issues affecting Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Since 2008 Jeremy Lunn has served as the branch convenor and has performed tremendously in continuing to raise public transport issues effecting the the eastern region.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on ongoing concerns regarding the lack of frequent rail services along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines beyond Ringwood. I joined Jeremy in calling for more frequent services:

Public Transport Users Association outer east convenor Jeremy Lunn said passengers travelling on the Belgrave/Lilydale line beyond Ringwood were receiving services below urban standards.

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said consistent 10 minute services were essential, given Ringwood’s status as a Central Activities District.

The use of sustainable forms of transport is critical to the success of Ringwood’s transformation into a Central Activities District and the current half services beyond Ringwood do not encourage public transport usage.

“For example, people are waiting up to 30 minutes for an eight minute train ride to and from Croydon,” Cr Makin said. “It is completely unacceptable to have long gaps in frequency, particularly when we want more people to use public transport in Ringwood.”

The Frankston line was recently provided with a consistent 10 minute off-peak service, providing a frequent service linking the Frankston Central Activities District. This a welcomed step and provides public transport services that minimise waiting times.

Ringwood and Box Hill are both Central Activities Districts and served by the Belgrave/Lilydale lines, it is clear that these services require similar frequency improvements. Outer eastern residents should not need to wait up to half an hour to connect them to Ringwood or Box Hill.

Speaking at the PTUA Outer East Branch meeting

Posted on by alex

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) was founded in 1976 and advocates for public transport improvements across Melbourne and Victoria.  The organisation has two branches, one located in Geelong and the other covering the Outer East of Melbourne.

The PTUA Outer East Branch was founded in 200, where I was one of its founding members and the initial branch convenor.  While I left the PTUA in 2007, the Outer East Branch has continued to grow and this evening I was invited to speak to the members to discuss public transport issues within Maroondah and the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

The top priority for Maroondah is securing a commitment for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, which currently fails disability compliance standards and lacks integration with bus, pedestrian and cycling facilities. The Council will be calling on all political parties to commit to the redevelopment of the Station, so as to complement the works that will be undertaken for the bus interchange.

In addition, there is also a need to accelerate the implementation of the bus service reviews.  While the review into the bus routes serving Maroondah, Knox and the Yarra Ranges was recently released, timeframes have not been provided for the implementation of the longer-term recommendations.

Public transport improvements are essential in improving the amenity and wellbeing of Maroondah, through reducing greenhouse emissions, improving accessibility and mitigating traffic congestion.

Public Transport for Melbourne's Southeast

Posted on by alex

This evening I was invited by Casey, Greater Dandenong and Cardinia residents to discuss public transport issues in Melbourne’s southeast.

While the meeting was planned to proceed through the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), the committee was unable to provide a speaker, leaving local residents in the lurch. At the request of the then PTUA Southeast branch, I attended the meeting to answer questions and to reinforce the need for outer suburban residents to speak up about the transport woes they are facing.

While it would appear that the PTUA Southeast Branch has been disbanded due to a lack of support from the PTUA, local residents are keen to establish their own organisation to ensure an ongoing presence for public transport advocacy.

Terry Hornbuckle, June Whitton both formerly from the PTUA Southeast Branch must be congratulated for their ongoing efforts and for engaging the local community to ensure a solid attendance at the meeting. Cr. Steve Beardon, a Councillor for the City of Casey, must also be congratulated for providing a meeting venue and for his support in promoting the meeting.

Melbourne’s growth suburbs should be the frontline for public transport advocacy as it is imperative that public transport in new areas is provided at the onset of new development. Failure to deliver such public transport, will only result in a similar situation to Rowville, where transport advocates are on the backfoot calling for investment in established areas, and provide major difficulties in future years.

I look forward to working with residents as they find their voices in the call for public transport advocacy.

Maroondah Journal: Key lobbyist quits: lack of focus claim

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The Maroondah Journal and a number of eastern suburban papers have covered my recent resignation from the Public Transport Users Association.

A vocal member of Melbourne’s key public transport lobby group has resigned amid concerns the organisation is failing as an effective lobbyist for the eastern suburbs.

“I felt there was a lack of support from people on the committee. We really need to start making inroads into effective and efficient public transport in Melbourne’s outer suburbs this is where the focus is lacking.”

The outer east and southeastern branches have achieved a number of successes over the past few years including:

  • Knox commissioned pre-feasibility study into the Rowville rail line;
  • Manningham commissioned study into the Doncaster Road (tram 48) extension;
  • Advocacy from Maroondah City Council over upgrades to Ringwood Station;
  • Introduction of the Stud Road SmartBus, due in 2008. This will provide frequent services through to midnight between Ringwood, Knox Dandenong and Frankston;
  • Introduction of SmartBus services along Warrigal Road;
  • Improved cleanliness and repair response times at Dandenong Station;
  • A consistent level of service for bus routes across metropolitan Melbourne. These standards will provide a basis for further improvements, if continued advocacy occurs.

Even though the State Government has failed to deliver the necessary infrastructure required for Melbourne’s eastern and southeastern suburbs, a strong community voice has emerged with public transport being seen as an issue critical to the wellbeing of Melbourne’s suburbs.

“While I have resigned from the PTUA, I certainly plan on remaining active in transport advocacy and in particular focusing on the needs of middle and outer suburban residents. We really need an organisation that encompasses an emphasis on these suburbs and looks at planning and community issues.”

Local communities are best placed to advocate for the public transport improvements that affect them. Public transport advocates need to work with local communities, since Melbourne’s outer suburbs should be the frontline in public transport campaigning. If the planning for new developments and growth areas does not include the simultaneous introduction of public transport then we will always be facing a losing battle.

“Communities need to find their voice and directly advocate for much needed service improvements. Sustainable transport and public transport advocacy has been and will remain a passsion of mine.”

I intend to work with local community groups to ensure that they find their voice and are able to undertake a grassroots campaign focused on public transport improvements. An organisation that is managed from a centralised committee and limits the input of local residents will unfortunately always have a limited impact.

MAV Meeting of Transport Coalitions

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The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), the peak body representing local government within Victoria, organised a meeting of transport coalitions to ensure cooperation between the different local government and community organisations that are advocating for public transport improvements.

Presentations were delivered by the:

  • Western Transport Alliance;
  • Eastern Transport Coalition;
  • Metropolitan Transport Forum;
  • Coalition for People’s Transport (including the PTUA);

There is broad agreement between the various organisations that improved public transport is critical to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Melbourne and that the State Government must start to deliver results. Likewise, there was also consensus that the Federal Government has a role to play in keeping State Governments accountable.

With rising petrol prices and further pressures on housing affordability, public transport improvements are critical to alleviating ongoing financial hardship for families. With car dependence often costing households to 30% of their income it is clear that sustainable transport – including much need rail extensions and further bus improvements are required to ensure an economically vibrant Melbourne.

Media Release: Transport advocacy will continue

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In announcing his resignation from the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), Alex Makin has urged local communities to find their voice and directly advocate for much needed service improvements.

“Sustainable transport and public transport advocacy has been and will remain a passion of mine,” Mr. Makin said. “While I have resigned from the PTUA, I certainly plan on remaining active in transport advocacy and in particular focusing on the needs of middle and outer suburban residents.”

Alex Makin joined in the PTUA in 2004 when he formed the Outer East branch to represent the transport needs of outer suburban residents. Alex subsequently formed the southeast branch and undertook direct lobbying of politicians and government departments to seek public transport improvements. Alex was also a principal spokesperson for the organisation until his resignation.

“I would like to thank the many current and past Members of Parliaments and local councillors who made themselves available to myself and the PTUA. While we may not have always agreed, it was certainly encouraging to have open dialogue with a number of politicians,” Mr. Makin said. “I would also like to thank the many dedicated community members both within the PTUA and external to the organisation.”

“Lastly, I would like to thank the media for their ongoing coverage of the PTUA and transport issues in general. It is critical that our middle and outer suburbs find their voice in calling for public transport improvements. I certainly will remain active in transport advocacy and as such am more than happy to continue speaking to the media as a public transport advocate,” Mr. Makin concluded.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Alex Makin on 0409 136 213 or email alex@alexmakin.com.au.

Maroondah Journal: Brumby urged to act on transport

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John Brumby has been appointed as the new Premier of Victoria after the resignation of Steve Bracks and the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called on the new Premier to commit to his promise of fixing Melbourne’s public transport system. The Maroondah Journal has reported on this request:

On his first day in the job, Mr Brumby announced that his six priorities included fixing Melbourne’s overcrowded public transport system. He has promised to fast track Victoria’s public transport blueprint Meeting Our Transport Challenges.

However, the Public Transport Users Association has called on Mr Brumby to the scrap the plan and start again.

Meeting Our Transport Challenge, which was released last year, failed to identify the improvements necessary to boost Melbourne’s public transport system. Much needed rail and tram extensions were largely missing from the plan and the identified bus upgrades were lacklustre and would fail to provide a convenient, readily available and frequent system.

PTUA outer east spokesman Alex Makin said much-needed service improvements were missing from the $10 billion plan. “John Brumby needs to do more than simply fast track Meeting Our Transport Challenges”.

Mr Makin said Mr Brumby’s ability to address public transport problems would define his term as Premier.

As Melbourne struggles to cope with worsening traffic congestion and rising petrol prices it is clear that the Government must deliver the rail, tram and bus improvements necessary to provide people with an alternative to car dependence.

John Brumby, as Premier, should begin by implementing the recommendations within the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) inquiry into traffic congestion, which was commissioned by Mr. Brumby during his time as Treasurer. Chief among those recommendations was the need to accelerate much needed rail and tram extensions and to provide further improvements to the bus network.

Public Transport Users Association Outer East Branch Meeting

Posted on by alex

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Outer East Branch meets on the first Thursday of each month to discuss public transport issues relevant to outer eastern Melbourne.

The branch aims to provide a local and vocal presence representing the public transport needs of the outer eastern suburbs. Recent successes of the branch include the Ringwood to Frankston SmartBus (due in February 2008), the Knox City Council Rowville rail feasibility study and the Manningham City Council feasibility study into the Doncaster Road tram extension.

The branch meets at at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre (470 Station Street, Box Hill) from 7:00 pm and is within walking distance of Box Hill Station and the route 700 SmartBus. Attendance is open to all outer eastern residents.

Public Transport Users Association Southeast Branch Meeting

Posted on by alex

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Southeast Branch meets on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss public transport issues relevant to southeastern Melbourne.

The branch aims to provide a local and vocal presence representing the public transport needs of the fast growing southeastern suburbs. Recent successes include new cleaning and maintenance standards for Dandenong Station, improvements to Noble Park Station and more frequent bus services.

The branch meets at at the Greater Dandenong Council offices (397-405 Springvale Road, Springvale) from 7:00 pm and is within walking distance of Springvale Station and the route 888/889 SmartBus. Attendance is open to all southeastern residents.

2007 Rail Infrastructure Summit

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I was invited to the 2007 Infrastructure Summit as part of a panel to discuss public transport infrastructure and the improvements required to maintain patronage growth and mitigate rising traffic congestion.

Each panellist was provided with the opportunity to deliver a five minute presentation and during this time I covered the economic, social and environmental factors that necessitate the delivery of much needed public transport improvements. While the State Government may claim that it has been overwhelmed by recent patronage increases, the reality is that this should have been expected and encouraged, if the Government was sincere about achieving the goal of 20% public transport modal share by the year 2020.

Modal share data, which is available as Appendix B of the recent State Budget papers, shows very little growth in the proportion of people that use public transport versus the proportion of people that are driving, thereby demonstrating a lack of government commitment to this modal share target.

It is interesting to note that the corresponding VicRoads data for the 2005-06 period highlighted a slight reduction in road use with the total vehicle kilometres travelled decreasing by 1.9% within inner Melbourne but by just 0.3 in the outer suburbs. Given the high price of petrol over that period, this data clearly demonstrates the deficiencies that exist in Melbourne’s public transport system, since outer suburban residents are not provided with the same public transport options that are available to inner Melbourne.

Public transport modal share (source: Appendix B - State Budget Papers 2007-2008)

It is clear that the State Government needs to go beyond the projects it listed in its policy document Meeting Our Transport Challenges and commit to the delivery of frequent train, tram and bus services across metropolitan Melbourne. This includes the need to bring forward much needed rail extensions, new tram extensions and further bus improvements. Reports such as the Government commissioned Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) inquiry into traffic congestion and the Environmental Sustainability Commissioner’s recent report into Melbourne’s sustainability confirm this view.