Calls for bus push

By Ed Merrison
THE Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has warned the State Government not to blow a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to deliver infrastructure and services to the outer east.
PTUA spokesman Alex Makin was referring to the Government’s eagerly anticipated Transport and Liveability Statement, which is due for release this week.
Mr Makin said his group had held ongoing discussions with the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Treasury and Finance and was ‘fairly confident’ it knew the bulk of the statement’s content.
“Current indications in regard to the Transport and Liveability Statement are that it will not be positive for the outer east and that any improvements will be minimal at best.
“What we’re likely to get are minimum bus standards which will help from a social inclusion point of view, but will do little to inspire confidence in the bus network,” he said.
Items on PTUA’s wish list included a commitment to a Rowville rail project, a tram extension from Vermont South to Knox City, a SmartBus connecting Knox City to Ferntree Gully Station and buses running at 15-minute intervals seven days a week, including evenings.
Mr Makin also said a commitment to bus route reform was needed if buses were to deliver convenience and journey times to compete with cars.
The Government aims to make public transport account for 20 per cent of travel in Victoria by 2020, but public transport’s current modal share is 9 per cent, despite rising petrol prices.
According to Mr Makin, the share has remained static for the past three or four years.
“The Government has been twiddling its thumbs while telling us to wait expectantly for one plan after another. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“If the Government blows its chance, it is blowing it for generations of Victorians, and particularly the people of the outer east,” he said.
The Government has remained tight-lipped on the content of the statement.
Addressing an audience at an outer east Labor fundraiser last week, Premier Steve Bracks hinted at the introduction of more frequent bus services that ran later at night and more often at the weekend.