Tag: ptua

PTUA Southeast Branch – recognising the PTUA's history

Posted on by alex

This evening the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Southeast Branch provided the opportunity to recognise the dedication of one of the founding members of the PTUA, Ken McIntyre.

Presentation to Ken McIntyre

Ken was a foundation member of the organisation, who with a number of other concerned citizens formed the PTUA in 1976. Under Ken’s stewardship the organisation achieved number of victories, including the introduction of multimodal tickets, meaning that passengers do not need to pay separate fares to use buses, trams or trains and electrification of the Cranbourne line in Melbourne’s southeast.

After resigning from the PTUA committee in 1995, Ken recently returned as an active member of the PTUA Southeast Branch. Ken’s experience has proven invaluable as the branch continues to advocate for further public transport improvements in southeast.

A certificate was presented to Ken in acknowledgement of his continued years of service to the PTUA.

Peak Oil, Petrol Prices and Climate Change Conference

Posted on by alex

Peak Oil and the impacts of climate change have risen in prominence this week with both the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and a coalition of community groups led by the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) organising conferences on these issues.

I attended the Peak Oil, Petrol Prices and Climate Change conference which was organised by the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), Environment Victoria and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) and held at the DOI Theatrette at Nauru House.

Peak Oil, whereby the supply of oil is unable to meet demand, was first theorised by Marion King Hubbert in 1956. Despite the constant crticisms throughout the reminder of Hubbert’s career, he successfully predicted the peaking of US domestic oil supplies. On a world-wide scale peak oil it is predicted that peak oil will occur somewhere between 2010 and 2020, the exact figure being difficult to determine due to the uncertainty surrounding the actual level of oil reserves within the Middle East.

The conference attracted prominent speakers such as Professor Peter Newman, one of Australia’s leading urban transport academics, Dr. Jago Dodson, who investigated the vulnerability of Australia’s cities in responding to rising petrol prices and Dr. Ian McPhail the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, who recently highlighted the State Government’s poor performance in regard to public transport and land use planning.

Areas of vulnerability to petrol prices within Melbourne

Areas of oil vulnerability within Melbourne (darker areas represent a higher vulnerability to rising petrol prices)

Regardless of the actual date of peak oil, it is clear that petrol prices are continuing to rise due to the demand for oil from countries such as India and China. Rising petrol prices place an increased financial burden on car dependent households, such as those located in Melbourne’s outer suburbs. These suburbs are dependent on car travel largely due to State Government neglect in providing fast, frequent and readily available public transport.

While Maroondah Council’s 2007/2008 Budget approved the hiring of a new full-time Transport and Sustainability Officer and the recently adopted Pedestrian Strategy will assist in focusing council on improving and increasing the level of walking within the municipality, we are still lacking any clear leadership from the State Government towards improving public transport.

Herald-Sun: Train Pain

Posted on by alex

The Herald-Sun has reported on the worsening condition of Melbourne’s train network, as overcrowding and cancellations continue to increase.

MELBOURNE’s overcrowded train network is bracing for more than 156,000 extra commuters a day — with just 10 new trains set to ease the load.

The State Government has failed to adequately plan for Melbourne’s public transport needs with passengers continuing to experience overcrowding.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Alex Makin said new trains would be welcome but would not meet the demand.

He said the trains could hold about 900 people per trip but he believed the Government would have to buy more rolling stock just to keep up.

With an era of rising petrol prices it should have been abundantly clear to the State Government that patronage growth would occur. Furthermore with the State Government’s goal of 20% public transport modal share by 2020 it should have comprehensively planned and delivered improvements inline with such growth.

“There has been very little proper planning. The Government has simply been reacting when there is a crisis,” he said.

“There is a strong demand for public transport, particularly in light of rising petrol prices.”

While the rail system and public transport overall is experiencing significant growth, modal share, (the proportion of trips taking by public transport versus cars) has remained relatively static. The State Government must begin to proactively manage Melbourne’s public transport system rather than simply lurching from one crisis to another.

Public Transport Users Association Committee Meeting

Posted on by alex

Founded in 1976, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) is the recognised consumer organisation representing passengers of public transport. The PTUA is a non-profit, voluntary organisation with no political affiliation, which lobbies governments and public transport authorities in the interest of all users of public transport.

I became actively involved in the PTUA in late 2004, when I founded the Outer East Branch to provide a local and vocal presence on public transport advocacy for outer eastern residents. Since this time I initiated a branch for Melbourne’s South East and was recently appointed Vice-President of the association in 2006.

The main PTUA committee meets on a monthly basis to provide an update on activities and strategies to advocate for public transport improvements.

Media Release: Report vindicates public transport campaign

Posted on by alex

MEDIA RELEASE – Wednesday, 30 May 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

Report vindicates public transport campaign

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called on the Government to present a new vision for Melbourne’s public transport network amid an independent report citing concern over urban sustainability.

“The report commissioned by the independent Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability has exposed the Government’s failure to satisfactorily address Melbourne’s public transport needs,” said PTUA Vice-President Alex Makin. “It has been made quite clear that Meeting Our Transport Challenges is sorely underwhelming.”

The State Government’s Transport Strategy, dubbed Meeting Our Transport Challenges, was released in May 2006 and resulted in community disgust over the postponement of new train and tram extensions and the failure to radically improve the bus network.

“For someone who is internal to Government to paint such an honest and bleak picture clearly demonstrates how the Government has lost the plot,” said Mr. Makin. “The Government’s plan provides nothing more than overcrowded trains, slow trams and infrequent buses. Petrol prices are continuing to increase and the Minister must present a new vision for Melbourne’s public transport system.”

The PTUA has renewed calls for the Government to commence works on the Rowville rail line and the Knox tram extension and to ensure that public transport services are provided simultaneously with urban growth and urban renewal.

“The Commissioner’s report has vindicated the PTUA’s concerns over the State Government’s poor handling of public transport. We call on Minister Kosky to start afresh and work on a new vision separated from the failings, cost blowouts and broken promises of her predecessor,” concluded Mr. Makin.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

– ENDS –

Victorian Transport Infrastructure Summit 2007

Posted on by alex

Through the Public Transport Users Association, I have been invited to speak at the 2007 Victorian Transport Infrastructure Summit on issues relating to Melbourne’s public transport infrastructure.

I will be part of a panel consisting of Yarra Trams, Metlink, the Public Transport Ombudsman and Melbourne University academic Paul Mees.

Topics that will be covered include options for managing transport congestion, network improvements operational practices and investment strategies. These issues are extremely topical to Melbourne given rising patronage, diminishing reliability, the need for overall coordination and a Government reluctance to invest in new public transport infrastructure.

Conference Details:

MX: Here's to 40 more

Posted on by alex

Melbourne’s MX newspaper has reported on the announcement of 39 additional train services that will be introduced from October this year.

Public Transport Users Association president Alex Makin gave the news a cautious welcome.

“It’s an encouraging sign but we would rather see it sooner rather than later,” Makin said. “It is good that the Transport Minister has taken steps to finally rectify the chronic overcrowding.”

The introduction of these services will assist in alleviating overcrowding and improving the frequency of Melbourne’s rail network, but further improvements are required, including the introduction of shoulder-peak express services to further cater to the needs of public transport users.

Transport Information Workshop at Glen Park Community Centre

Posted on by alex

Today I was invited to speak at a transport workshop organised by the Women’s Learning Centre at Glen Park Community Centre at Bayswater North. The transport workshop included representatives from Invicta Bus Company, David Hodgett State Member for Kilsyth. Katie Goodrope Maroondah’s MetroAccess worker and myself, as a Councillor for Maroondah and Vice-President of the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA).

The workshop was held as an open discussion to allow the participants to discuss the transport issues facing them. Concerns included safety, the poor condition of Ringwood Station and the lack of frequent and readily available bus and train services.

Invicta Bus Company has worked closely with the community to provide bus services but ultimately the capacity of Invicta to deliver improvements is limited until the State Government improves the minimum service standards of Melbourne’s bus network.

Local government, like advocacy groups such as the PTUA, have a key role in holding the State Government accountable in delivering much needed improved public transport services across Maroondah and the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

Local government, however does have responsibility for the construction and maintenance of footpaths and this an area council is currently is examining through its draft Pedestrian Strategy. All trips, whether taken by cars or public transport, involve some form of walking and it is crucial that Maroondah’s footpath network is accessible and safe.

2007 Rail Infrastructure Conference

Posted on by alex

Today I participated in a panel discussion for the Rail Infrastructure Australia conference in Sydney. The topic of discussion was passenger rail and included issues such as level of services, network integration and ticketing.

The session was moderated by Jim Wolfe from the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) and panellists included Bill Watson from TransAdelaide, John Lee from the State Transit Authority of NSW and myself representing public transport users through the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA).

There is a growing need across Australia for improvements in public transport. Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are all providing a number of network extensions while Melbourne continues to lag behind. While there are common issues such as peak hour overcrowding, the approach of cities such as Sydney, Perth and Brisbane will result in a public transport network that has an increased reach and potential to serve new developments. Melbourne also lags behind other cities in providing frequent and direct bus routes and also fails to provide an integrated network through ensuring bus and train coordination.

2007/08 State Budget interview with ABC 774

Posted on by alex

This morning I was discussing the State Budget with Red Symons on ABC 774. From a public transport perspective the state budget was an improvement over previous budgets. The purchase of ten additional six carriage trains was a measure the PTUA was calling for and it is pleasing that this will proceed.

The additional trains, which are expected in 2009, will alleviate the chronic overcrowding that is occurring on Melbourne’s train network. Bus improvements are also progressing including the long awaited Stud Road SmartBus which is now expected in 2008.

Unfortunately, despite rising patronage, the State Budget was generally underwhelming with very little provided above the lacklustre projects identified in Meeting Our Transport Challenges, released in May last year. The newly appointed Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, has so far failed to provide a new vision for the public transport portfolio meaning that most of Melbourne is still without frequent, reliable and readily available public transport.

The Minister now has twelve months to prepare a new vision for Melbourne’s public transport system and to reverse the neglect the portfolio suffered under her predecessor.