Tag: trams

Media Release: Report vindicates public transport campaign

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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

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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:

The Age: Tolls urged to cut traffic

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The Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission report into traffic congestion was releases today, along with the State Government’s response to its recommendations.

The report, which was covered in The Age, has painted a dire picture for Melbourne’s worsening traffic congestion and its recommendations, which included much needed rail extensions and better bus services, rightfully called on the Government to take immediate action in tackling this situation.

Public Transport Users Association president Alex Makin said the report revealed holes in the Government’s transport policy. “There’s a need pointed out by the commission to accelerate bus and train projects, but the Government rests on its laurels saying these issues have been addressed in last year’s transport plan,” Mr Makin said.

The State Government can no longer afford to ignore Melbourne’s worsening traffic congestion. Melbourne requires expansion of the rail network in line with urban growth, logical extensions to the tram network and vastly improved bus services. It is only through providing real transport choice, in the form of being able to catch public transport, that the Government can mitigate rising traffic congestion.

Herald-Sun: Petrol price hike tipped

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Amid a forecast of rising petrol prices the Public Transport Users Association released its pre-budget submission calling on the State Government to dramatically improve public transport.

The Herald-Sun has reported on this pre-budget submission:

The Public Transport Users Association said the latest price hike increased the need for a major boost to public transport in the state budget.

“After months of poor reliability and disruptions, public confidence in the system is at a tipping point,” association vice-president Alex Makin said.

The effects of a lack of public transport and, as a consequence, car dependence, are clearly reflected in the data for total vehicle kilometres for the years 2005/06 (source: VicRoads).

Within inner Melbourne (which is relatively well-served with a comprehensive train and tram network) overall total vehicle kilometres travelled fell by 1.9%. In contrast however, total vehicle kilometres travelled fell by just 0.3% in the outer suburbs.

Without decisive action people would continue to be vulnerable to higher oil prices – as people abandon the system, as well as increased congestion, pollution and greenhouse emissions, he said.

The upcoming State Budget will be a key litmus test for Lynne Kosky, the newly appointed Minister for Public Transport and whether she deliver an alternative to the crippling effects of rising petrol prices.

The 2007 Sustainable Living Festival

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The Sustainable Living Festival, an annual event held at Federation Square, aims to showcase organisations that inspire and promote sustainable communities.

Given that transport, due to car dependence, is the highest household contributor of greenhouse emissions, it was fitting for the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) to hold a stall over the three day festival.

Alex Makin 2007 Sustainable Living Festival

I staffed the festival for Friday afternoon and it was encouraging to see the continued strong interest in sustainable transport from people all across metropolitan Melbourne. Sustainable transport through the provision of rail and tram extensions in growth areas interlinked by frequent and direct bus services is the only way to provide real transport choice to Metropolitan Melbourne and hence mitigate rising traffic congestion and reduce petrol dependence.

The Sustainable Transport Festival is being held from Friday the 16th of through to Sunday the 18th of February at Federation Square. For more information please visit www.slf.org.au.

Channel 7: Report on worsening traffic conditions

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This evening I was on Channel Seven news commenting on the need for public transport improvements to mitigate Melbourne’s worsening traffic congestion.

[flv]http://www.alexmakin.com.au/videos/20070226-ch7-traffic.flv[/flv]

Melbourne will continue to experience worsening traffic congestion until the State Government finally provides real transport choice in the form of frequent, readily available, reliable and safe public transport. Rail lines to South Morang, Rowville and Doncaster are urgently required as is upgraded bus services that are coordinated with Melbourne’s rail and tram networks.

Maroondah Leader: Holiday schedule causes delays

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The ad hoc implementation of summer timetables demonstrates that the extent of the poor integration faced with Melbourne’s public transport. With buses, trams and trains all having differing summer timetable dates overall coordination and ease of use is restricted during the ‘summer timetable period’.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the effects that summer timetables have for Maroondah residents who are largely served by National bus services.

PUBLIC transport users say Maroondah commuters face long waiting times over summer because train, tram and bus schedules are out of sync.

Of particular concern is the fact that bus routes formerly operated by National Bus Company (and now operated by Ventura) have punitive off-peak service cutbacks meaning that passengers that want to use public transport for recreational trips (such as students) are faced with a mere hourly service.

Alex Makin, a Maroondah councillor and vice-president of the Public Transport Users Association, has called for an end to summer timetables and service cutbacks.

“The Ventura-owned National Bus Company, the main operator in Maroondah, is on a summer timetable for most of January,” Cr Makin said. “This means bus services are out of step with train arrivals and departures.

“An already poor service is, in effect, unusable.”

Melbourne’s metropolitan bus contracts are to be renewed this year, meaning the State Government is a unique and rare opportunity to end the haphazard and detrimental impact of off-peak service cuts on Melbourne’s bus routes.

“The problem is that reductions to train and tram services usually only affect peak hour runs, whereas bus operators cut their services by about 50 per cent across the board.”

While there may be a slight reduction in peak-hour travel, there is huge potential ensure that public transport is able to cater to the increased demand of recreational travel, particularly for students who are often managing a part time job and socialising.

Mr Makin said public transport operators should be aware that cutbacks created social isolation and made it difficult for secondary and tertiary students to work part-time or enjoy their holidays.

These off-peak service cuts could be a thing of the past, if the Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, takes the initiative to remove such oddities from our public transport contracts.

Meeting the new Minister for Public Transport

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Today, as part of delegation through the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), I met the new Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky. While the meeting was largely introductory in nature it was encouraging to see the Minister take on board a number of concerns shared by the PTUA.

Unlike her predecessor, Minister Kosky has a history in local government, being a former Councillor and later Mayor of Footscray City Council. This community orientated background should hopefully mean that the new Minister will be more responsive to community needs.

While the organisational structure of the Department of Infrastructure is still unnecessarily burdensome, it is hoped that Minister Kosky will be able to succeed in delivering the much needed public transport improvements required for Melbourne’s future economic, social and environmental success.

Melbourne requires a comprehensive public transport system that provides real transport choice. This will only be achieved through expanding the rail and tram network and ensuring that bus services are fast, frequent, readily available and direct. Such improvements would ensure progress towards the goal of increasing public transport modal share to 20% by the year 2020.
The initial meeting with Minister Kosky was both positive and productive and I trust that she will take this opportunity to rectify Melbourne’s public transport deficiencies. If so, then I wish Lynne Kosky the best of success.

Herald-Sun: Tram, train, bus tangle

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The Herald-Sun has reported on the confusion that will ensue due to service cutbacks on public transport over most of January:

The annual Christmas present from public transport operators will include slashed train, tram and bus services for at least six weeks until mid-January.

Unfortunately the persistence of the summer timetable has demonstrated the continued failure of the State Government to operate a public transport system that reflects modern needs. In particular many students, who are on holidays over January, require reliable and frequent public transport to ensure access to employment and recreation.

But the Public Transport Users Association has attacked operators and the Government for again reducing the number of services over Christmas.

“There is no basis today for the continuation of the summer timetable, particularly one that is so drastically reduced,” vice-president Alex Makin said.

“The bureaucrats aren’t keeping up with modern trends and they’re not challenging the system to reflect modern needs. Particularly with flexible working hours, Melbourne does try to function as a 24-hour city.”

Like in previous years there has been a failure to properly integrate the service cutbacks to ensure that the modified train, tram and bus services have at the very least a consistent a start and finishing date. This lack of coordination demonstrates once again the failure to view public transport as part of an integrated network.

With bus contracts to be reviewed in 2007 there is an opportunity to ensure consistency across the bus network. In particular the former National bus routes (which includes bus routes in Manningham, Maroondah and Whitehorse), operate on a completely separate to the rest of the bus network resulting in the poor integration that is rife throughout metropolitan Melbourne.

Final PTUA committee meeting for 2006

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The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has achieved a number of successes in 2006 such as ensuring that public transport was seen as a key state election issue. The final committee meeting for the year provided the opportunity to reflect on these accomplishments while ensuring that a sold foundation is established for 2007.

In particular residents of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs made their voices heard in the November State Election with the government losing six outer eastern seats. The tight contests in a number of seats, such as Kilsyth and Ferntree Gully, clearly demonstrated the importance of public transport as an election issue.

In fact the government may have been able to such these seats had promises, such as the Knox tram, the Rowville rail line and service improvements along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, been honoured by the and not simply forgotten by the now former MPs.

The PTUA was pleased with the discussions held with a number of candidates and newly elected MPs and we will continue this dialogue to ensure that these new MPs honour their commitment to public transport issues.

Melbourne’s southeast is also finding its voice on public transport issues with regular meeting at Springvale for what is currently a south-eastern sub-branch. In 2007 steps must be taken to formalise a southeastern branch and ensure that these residents in these areas have the same opportunity as Melbourne’s east in demanding public transport improvements.

The work of branches must be commended as they directly contributed to the PTUA’s successful lobbying efforts in the lead up to the State Election. This momentum however must not stop as it needs to continue throughout the four years to ensure that more than just rhetoric is delivered.