Tag: transit orientated design

Maroondah Journal: Are we stuck in first gear?

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As part of its State Election coverage, Fairfax Community News (which owns the Maroondah Journal) has reported on a series of election issues. The Maroondah Journal, along with the other Fairfax Community Newspapers, has reported on the issue of public transport.

Better public transport would result in a lower level of car dependence, thus mitigating rising traffic congestion and the burden of higher petrol prices.

Unfortunately rather than provide a vision, the government chose instead to neglect its earlier promises, such as the Rowville feasibility study and the South Morang and Cranbourne rail extensions, and instead has released a plan that contains spin rather than actual substance.

The Public Transport Users Association was so unimpressed with the plan that it called on Mr Batchelor [The Transport Minister] to resign.

Vice-President Alex Makin said the document did not tackle the root of Melbourne’s transport tangle – its fragmented make-up.

The State Government has neglected to provide Melbourne with much needed train and tram extensions or to overhaul the bus network to ensure a frequent, direct and readily available bus network.

Ultimately there has been a failure to integrate transport and planning meaning that Melbourne is not being provided with a frequent, reliable and readily available public transport system.

The PTUA wants a single controlling body and a rethink on buses – the only transport most Melburnians have access to – to better co-ordinate the system.

“Melbourne’s bus servies are likened to a tangled mess of spaghetti,” Mr Makin said. “The more frequent services are, the easier it is to coordinate with other services and the easier for people to use.”

The Government seems content to tell two-thirds of Melbourne to wait up to an hour for bus services. The Opposition which has stated that “public transport can be vote-changer” must pledge to deliver a comprehensive public transport system that actually delivers the broken promises of the Bracks Government.

Stringybark Festival: Community support for better public transport

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Stringybark is a weekend-long annual community festival organised by Knox City Council and held at the Rowville Community Centre. Like previous years, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), like other community groups such as the Knox Environment Society (KES) and Environment Victoria (EV), held a stall at the festival to engage the community in the call for better public transport.

Alex Makin at the PTUA stall at the Stringybark Festival (October 2006)

Each year the momentum for better public transport continues to build with the PTUA focusing on the much-needed Rowville rail line and the broken promise of the tram extension to Knox. Stickers calling for the funding of the Rowville rail line were distributed as well as copies of the PTUA’s Rail for Rowville factsheet.

Fund Rowville Rail Now Sticker

With a state election due in five weeks time there has never been a better time to show your support for the Rowville rail line. Stickers can be acquired by emailing me at alex@alexmakin.com.au.

Rail for Rowville FactsheetIn addition to the stickers, the Rail for Rowville factsheet clearly states the economic feasibility of the Rowville rail line and the reasons why it is required within the next five years. While the government was keen to trumpet the Wellington SmartBus service, the fact is that only a rail line will meet the needs of residents, students and businesses by ensuring a fast and efficient public transport option.

Manningham sees the 'End of Suburbia'

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This evening the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), in conjunction with Manningham City Council, held a screening of the End of Suburbia to supplement the Destination Doncaster Launch.

Chris Trikilis, the PTUA’s Doncaster Coordinator, accompanied myself as Vice-President and Manningham City Councillor Grace La Vella in providing an overview of the film and highlighting the ramifications of continued public transport neglect within Doncaster and Manningham.

Manningham is the only municipality in Melbourne that lacks any form of rail access. The extension of tram 48 with a restructuring of the bus network would not only provide greater transport choice but would also spur much needed investment within Doncaster Hill. As demonstrated in Box Hill, the extension of tram route 109 to Box Hill rejuvenated the town centre, extending tram 48 for Doncaster would provide a similar effect for Manningham.

Chris Trikils and Alex Makin presenting the Doncaster End of Suburbia screening

In the longer term heavy-rail via the Eastern Freeway is the only viable alternative to ensuring quick and efficient journeys into the CBD and inner suburbs. Manningham has a similar population density and size to Glen Waverley and yet its needs are constantly being overlooked.

It is time for all political parties to deliver urgent public transport improvements to Manningham.

The Age: Rail line 'would replace 10,000 cars'

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PTUA launches Destination Doncaster

Public Transport Users Association launches the Destination Doncaster Campaign

This afternoon the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) launched its Destination Doncaster campaign, calling on all political parties to commit to the delivery of a plan to provide transport choice to Manningham, the only municipality in metropolitan Melbourne that lacks any form of rail or tram access.

The Age reported exclusively on the Destination Doncaster campaign:

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) is calling on all political parties to commit to a future rail line before next month’s election and invest in sustainable transport.

Due to continued transport neglect, public transport patronage in Manningham is just 7.3 per cent, below the Melbourne average of 8 per cent and less than the neighbouring municipalities of Banyule (10.6 per cent) and Whitehorse (11.6 per cent), which have fixed rail.

PTUA vice-president Alex Makin said Doncaster, the hub of the City of Manningham, was the only municipality in Melbourne without any rail or tram access.

“As a result, public transport patronage in Manningham is depressingly abysmal and will forever be minimal unless fixed rail infrastructure is provided immediately,” Mr Makin said.

The PTUA is calling on all political parties to support the immediate extension of tram 48 through to Doncaster Shoppingtown and the construction of heavy-rail along the Eastern Freeway by 2010.

Ringwood Precinct Plans on Display

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Tonight Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC – the owners of Eastland) and Maroondah City Council presented the precinct plans for the Ringwood Town Centre to the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce.

The precinct plans are intended to provide a strategic framework for the Ringwood town centre, which is the area north of Maroondah Highway and bound by Ringwood Street and Warrandyte Road. The precinct plans envisage the transformation of Ringwood into a pedestrian friendly and vibrant suburban centre lined with much needed hospitality and entertainment such as cafes and restaurants.

The revitalisation of Ringwood is long overdue and it was encouraging to see the members of the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce supportive of the concept. While most of the community appears eager for the revitalisation of Ringwood to begin it is unfortunate that the State Government is still dragging its feet by failing to provide a solid commitment to the redevelopment of Ringwood Station. The station forms a centrepiece the new urban centre and it is imperative that the existing facility, which fails disability compliance legislation and is perceived to unsafe, is redeveloped into a modal interchange fitting of the new image for Ringwood.

To view the precinct plans please visit the Maroondah City Council Website. Submissions commenting on the plans need to be received by the 10th of November.

Media Release: Councils to seek fairer fares

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The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) will be conducting a postcard survey on Tuesday 10 October to call on the State Government to review the fare structure used across the Melbourne metropolitan area.

Councillor Alex Makin represents Maroondah City Council on the ETC, and will be participating in the survey as part of the ETC’s long term campaign to improve transport choices in the East.

“The ETC will be conducting their survey at six different points across the eastern suburbs with the aim of encouraging the State Government to conduct a review of public transport zones and fares,” said Cr Makin.

“I will be at Heatherdale Station on the morning of Tuesday 10th of October to do my part handing out postcards and talking with patrons of the public transport service. I want to hear more about what people think of public transport fares,” said Cr Makin.

Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition, Cr Mick Van De Vreede says the ETC is calling for fairer fares for Melburnians.

“We don’t believe that the current fare structure encourages people to use public transport as well as it could. Given there is a new ticketing system coming into place in 2007 it would be sensible to introduce fairer fares at the same time,” said Cr Van De Vreede.

“The current fare structure puts in place a number of distortions, for instance we have seen:

  • Station car parks at zone boundaries targeted by consumers seeking to avoid the higher costs,
  • The east of Melbourne having a Zone 3 which does not exist in the north or west,
  • Melbournians living on boundaries having to pay for two zones when the same journey in other locations will cost a fare for one zone only.

“The ETC does not expect the system to be free, however the fare structure should be studied to see how it can work to encourage greater patronage.

“Melbourne has always been a leader with its multi-modal tickets, it’s now time to utilise technology to take the next step.

“A good example of what can be done is EastLink. Along EastLink drivers will have 13 separate tolling points which means that they will only pay for the little bit they use. There is even a 20 per cent discount for local trips on weekends. Public transport users deserve the same flexibility, if fact they need it if public transport is going to compete with EastLink,” said Cr Van De Vreede.

“It would be sensible if the Government announced a review of the fare and zone system before the new ticketing structure comes into place,” Cr Makin concluded.

The ETC consists of seven Councils in Melbourne’s east, representing over 940,000 residents who are conducting a long term campaign to improve transport choices.

I look forward to meeting commuters at Heatherdale Station next Tuesday to further the campaign for fair public transport fares.

Liberal commitment towards safety at Ringwood Station

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This afternoon I was invited by Ryan Smith, the Liberal candidate for Warrandyte and Heidi Victoria, the Liberal candidate for Bayswater, to a policy announcement made delivered by Ted Baillieu, the leader of the Opposition, at Ringwood Station.

The policy announcement contains $120,000 for a security upgrade to Ringwood Station to ensure that the entire station, rather than just a designated ‘safety zone’ are monitored by police. The commitment is based upon a similar project that has been operating at Lilydale where the police actively monitor the security cameras installed at the rail station.

The program at Lilydale has been hailed a success since it has seen a reduction in vandalism, graffiti and other anti-social behaviour in and around the rail station. A similar program has also been proposed for both Croydon and Mooroolbark.

Ringwood Station is often perceived as being unsafe and as such it is imperative that safety concerns at stations such as Ringwood are addressed. Ringwood as the junction between the Belgrave and Lilydale line is an extremely busy station and at times is the scene of anti-social behaviour, the installation of actively monitored security camera will help address these safety concerns.

The installation of security cameras will also assist in improving the safety of the local area while the much-needed plans for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station are implemented. It is worth noting that at this time neither major party has committed itself to the redevelopment of Ringwood Station.

It is hoped that this policy announcement will demonstrate the wider need for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into a well lit, safe and accessible modern rail station. I look forward to the unveiling of further policy releases over the next eight weeks.

Maroondah Leader: Councils lobby for transport

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The Maroondah Leader has reported on the launch of the Eastern Transport Coalition and Maroondah City Council’s renewed focus on public transport:

MAROONDAH Council has joined forces with six councils to campaign for improved transport options for more than 940,000 residents in the eastern region.

The Eastern Transport Coalition was launched recently at the Box Hill tram terminus to represent the type of public transport facilities wanted across the region.

The Eastern Transport Coalition chaired by Knox Councillor Mick Van de Vreede aims to ensue a better public transport system throughout the eastern suburbs including the need for more frequent bus and train services.

Cr Alex Makin, Maroondah’s representative on the coalition, said the council supported the need to work as a region to gain public transport improvements.

“For instance, a better bus system would see an increased service frequency and 5am to 11pm operating times seven days a week,” Cr Makin said. “People should not have to stay at home because they can’t get a bus, tram or train.”

As Maroondah’s representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition it is imperative that eastern Melbourne is provided with the same standard of public transport services enjoyed by inner city residents.

The Eastern Transport Coalition, which includes Knox, Manningham, Greater Dandenong, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges, provides a united stance from local government in demonstrating the support and need for better  public transport.

“By working with our neighbouring councils in the east we have a chance to fix some of our transport problems,” said Cr Makin.

“This is a long-term campaign but the public transport improvements we are seeking are critical to the vibrancy and liveability of the eastern suburbs. We must start planning and advocating now to achieve the desired results.”

With the State Election occurring in November of this year the Eastern Transport Coalition will be continuing in its efforts to seek urgent public transport improvements.

Metropolitan Transport Forum: Optimum Institutional Arrangements for Public Transport

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Maroondah City Council through the Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) is an associate member of the Metropolitan Transport Forum, which like the ETC is an advocacy group comprising of metropolitan local governments.

The Metropolitan Transport Forum meets on a monthly basis and typically includes a presentation focused on a specific transport related issue.  The August meeting included a presentation and report by Dr. Rolf Bergmaier who investigated the current institutional arrangements in regard to transport and planning.

Dr. Rolf Bergmaier’s report found that the current bureaucratic structure is skewed heavily in favour to VicRoads, which as a statutory authority is able to speak publicly on government policy and includes its own budgetary allocation.  In contrast to the Public Transport Division of the Department of Infrastructure Dr. Bergmaier found that the additional layers of bureaucracy faced by the Public Transport Division made it difficult to directly interact with the Minister for Transport or to conduct sufficient public consultation.

As has been evidenced throughout the last seven years the current flawed arrangements are costly and can prevent the achievement of outcomes acceptable to the community. This is evident through the cost blowouts and project delays experienced on public transport related projects such as the Craigieburn rail extension and the Knox tram extension and the producing of flawed plans for the grade separation of Middleborough Road.

The streamlining of Victoria’s current institutional arrangements to provide an integrated transport authority where roads and public transport are assessed on equal merits and from budgetary allocation is not a new concept. The Premier’s hand picked Infrastructure Planning Council made this very same recommendation back in 2002 and likewise the draft congestion inquiry report compiled by the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) has also identified the need for reform.

The Bracks Government needs to follow the lead of their Western Australian counterparts and create an integrated transport and planning authority. This approach which resulted in a combined transport budget has seen renewed expansion of the rail network, a redesign of the bus network to ensure operational and service efficiencies and the integration of land use planning to maximise the potential for sustainable transport. 

As has been seen over the past seven years the economic and social costs of mismanagement and waste can have a crippling effect on the provision of infrastructure and service delivery resulting in costly and inferior outcomes for the community.

In 2002 the Bracks Government ignored this advice and as a result has presided over the mismanagement of a myriad of public transport related projects. It would be absolute folly for the Government to once again ignore this advice.

MAV: Melbourne 2030 and Urban Planning Discussion Forum

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The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is the peak representative and lobbying body for Victoria’s 79 councils and is the official voice of local government within Victoria.

Given the MAV’s status as a peak body, the State Government’s Melbourne 2030 planning framework has received considerable attention given that a five-year review of Melbourne 2030 is planned for 2007.

The discussion forum was held to provide local government with an opportunity to discuss a cohesive approach towards this review with the aim of lobbying the State Government to improve Melbourne 2030 as part of the review and implementation process.

Throughout the discussion there was a clear consensus for a detailed implementation plan to accompany Melbourne 2030, a concern that has been echoed by various organisations including the Planning Institute of Australia, Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) and Save Our Suburbs (SOS).  Additionally there was concern over the government’s failure to integrate transport and land use planning with participants strongly disapproving the State Government’s lacklustre Transport and Liveability Statement.

It is imperative that the State Government responds to the concerns raised by local government through the review of Melbourne 2030. Melbourne 2030 has added significant financial costs for councils and yet the State Government has failed to demonstrate clear leadership in areas such as integrating transport and land use planning.

Melbourne 2030 requires a fast, frequent and readily available public transport network it is clear that local government expects the State Government to deliver more than just rhetoric.