State retreats from sustainable development for Melbourne

The Metropolitan Transport Forum, representing 19 councils on transport issues, has said the state government's proposed extension of Melbourne’s urban growth boundary will exacerbate Melbourne’s land use and transport problems.

‘While many overseas cities are consolidating, the state government is intent on sprawling further into farming and recreation land, without adequate passenger transport or other facilities,’ said MTF Chair Cr Jackie Fristacky.

‘It will take decades before realistic services are available for the northern, north western, eastern, and south eastern urban expansion,’ she said.

According to Cr Fristacky the plan released yesterday is flawed in key respects, namely:

1. The low target of residential density at an average of 15 dwellings per hectare is a serious retreat from the Melbourne 2030 blueprint for a more compact and sustainable city. An average of 25 was initially targeted for development at Aurora and 40 dwellings per hectare were identified around activity centres and rail stations. Highly sought-after areas in inner Melbourne such as Port Phillip and Yarra are 40 and 60+ dwellings per hectare;

2. The failure to integrate planning for extending the rail line to Epping North, from South Morang to Mernda to Whittlesea and beyond Cranbourne East. The catchments for developments in the north and south east require integration with planning for further rail extensions. This is critical to tackle congestion and ensure a high mode share for public transport in these growth areas.

‘Unless average densities far exceed 15 per hectare, further pressures on Melbourne’s growth boundary will be inevitable’ said Cr Fristacky.

‘Melbourne will pay for these low aspirations set out by the Government with reduced liveability, environmental and social costs.

‘The MTF urges the Government to plan for real ‘smart growth’ by committing to sustainable residential density in growth areas supported by integrated public transport services.’

What do you think?

Hooray for South Morang – at last

Melbourne councils reacted positively to today’s state budget spending on public transport.

Metropolitan Transport Forum spokesperson, Cr Janet Bolitho, said the budget delivered on the first commitments announced last year in the Victorian Transport Plan.

‘We particularly welcome the South Morang rail extension, and the additional funding for buses and cycling,’ she said.

‘The South Morang rail extension will bring better public transport to Melbourne’s rapidly growing North.’

Cr Bolitho said that the budget was definitely going in the right direction. ‘This is good but we still face overcrowded trains and trams.’

Cr Bolitho said that vital projects like Tarneit rail extension (as recommend by the Eddington Report) were still waiting for federal funding.

‘With more and more people turning to public transport, it is crucial that federal infrastructure money flows to urban public transport projects.’

‘Federal funding or not, it is crucial that more is done by the state to ease commuter crowding on trains and trams,’ Cr Bolitho said

What do you think?

Obama says, yes we can to rail

Watch President Obama outline his vision for high speed rail. He blends the need for a low carbon future with job creating infrastructure development.

"Now, all of you know this is not some fanciful, pie-in-the-sky vision of the future. It is now. It is happening right now. It's been happening for decades. The problem is it's been happening elsewhere, not here."

Could our leaders get inspiration from Obama's vision?

The Age says Kosky should go. What do you think?

It’s not been a good year for the embattled Minister For Public Transport, Lynne Kosky. First there was the summer meltdown of the train system, then buck passing about who was at fault, followed by the revelation that only one of the promised new trains would arrive before year’s end.
Now The Age has revealed surprising government data about passengers numbers - Melbourne's big squeeze.
Today’s editorial in The Age left nothing to the imagination. ‘It is time for her to go,’ they concluded.
What do you think?

Our solitary new train deserves a name ...

After so much fanfare about the Victorian Transport Plan and the billion $$ investment, its hard to believe that the state government plans to add just one extra train in 2009. (See The Age report “One new train due despite rise in trips” 10 Mar 2009)

pt4me2 reckons we can't let the delivery of just one new train pass without recognition. So we thought we might ask the public to suggest a name for the train? Maybe Welcome Stranger, Hens Teeth, Lonesome Lorry, …. Anyway, we’d like to hear your suggestions.

We need a very special name for a very special train … but don't hurry, it doesn't arrive until December 2009.

Make a comment with your suggested names ..

Track record documents the diabolical start 2009 on the rails

Track Record is the Dept of Transport regular report on the performance of Victoria's public transport services. The January figures show that train cancellations in January were up to five times higher than average.

Read the figures for your line here.

What was your experience?

Train system is run down and dangerous

The Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) has joined the chorus of concerns about the state of our public transport system, especially the struggling train network.

MTF Chair, Cr Jackie Fristacky said the dangers were made clear by Connex’s plan to close stations to prevent customers being pushed in front of trains at peak periods. ‘Some signalling and power boxes are nearly a hundred years old. They place the whole system in jeopardy,’ she said. ‘Instead of grandiose plans for 10 and 12 years ahead we need renovation of the railways now before tragic accidents occur. ‘Tracks, signals, power, stations, and trains all need upgrading urgently. ‘The Victorian Government seems determined to shift the congestion back on to the roads, creating more pollution and emissions, and even greater danger of deaths and injuries,’ she said.

Cr Fristacky also called for a return to local manufacturing of trains to suit Australian conditions.
‘Locally made trains and trams should replace European made trains that apparently malfunction under Australian extremes,’ she suggested.

What do you think?

Boulevard instead of traffic trap

Letter to The Age from Cr Jackie M Fristacky Chair Metropolitan Transport Forum

The Age headline, “The real plan is to push us back into cars” (15/12), is prescient about the government’s transport objectives.
These objectives are reflected in the $5M engineering study to create an expressway on Hoddle Street with concrete flyovers and underpasses at key intersections such as Johnson Street, Victoria Parade and Bridge Road.
Hoddle Street’s problems arise from the influx of vehicles exiting the Eastern and Monash Freeways. The Eastern carries 120,000 vehicles a day, while the M1 is being expanded to double its capacity. Hoddle Street congestion is compounded by the car centric approach to transport through building Eastlink and expanding the M1.
These key freeway expansions were decided without proper public policy assessment based on principles of integrated transport and land use planning.
Developed in secret, the Hoddle Street proposal has had no public input or consultation, or cost-benefit analysis. Nor has it been appraised against alternatives. The new $5M study is now an admission that the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) bus system will be ineffectual to impact on mode share to alleviate congestion on Hoddle Street.
The Government has been silent on the City of Melbourne, Yarra and Manningham joint submission to Infrastructure Australia, seeking a $5M feasibility study of a rail service for the growing Doncaster corridor.
The cost of the Hoddle Street proposals would exceed the $1.5B cost of rail to Doncaster. Other costs are added congestion at Hoddle Street intersections, huge lost opportunity costs, reduced road safety and amenity and increased emissions.
There is a superior alternative vision for Hoddle Street to be renovated as a key Melbourne boulevard and activity centre.
The Cities of Melbourne, Yarra, Stonnington and Port Philllip, through a joint Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP) have endorsed improving the quality and design of Alexandra Parade and Hoddle Street as boulevards. Submissions to the Eddington Review and Government, proposed mass transit by rail from Doncaster to Carlton and the extension of tram route 86 along Hoddle Street from Clifton Hill to Richmond and South Yarra.
Improvements have been made through tree planting, footpaths and council assuming maintenance of street medians for VicRoads. The underlying objective is the development of our key parades as attractive assets like St Kilda Road.
The Dynon to Domain metro rail tunnel supports the boulevard status of St Kilda Road. Similar commitment is required for a metro rail system in the east to enable Alexandra Parade and Hoddle Street to fulfil their destiny.
The Hoddle family have suggested renaming the latter as Robert Hoddle Boulevard in recognition of the huge contribution of Melbourne’s pioneer surveyor, to the layout and liveability of Melbourne.
The alternative view for Melbourne’s key boulevards requires wide public debate and policy analysis, rather than a narrow $5M engineering study for a Hoddle Street traffic trap.

What do you think?

Transport plan: Where’s the greenhouse emission reduction?

Where’s the greenhouse emission reduction? Where’s the rail to Rowville or Doncaster? Where are the extra tram lines?

The Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) has welcomed the public transport projects and new rolling stock announced in the State transport plan but has questioned a number of crucial gaps.

MTF Chair, Cr Jackie Fristacky, said the plan didn’t do enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. ‘The transport plan shows minimal change in emissions over the next 30 years. This will need revision if Victoria is going to have any hope of meeting greenhouse emission reduction targets.’

The MTF welcomes the omission of the Eddington east-west road tunnel. But the $5 million allocated to study Hoddle Street flyovers and underpasses, demonstrates confusion over how to deal with congestion, emissions and road safety. ‘Hoddle Street should be a boulevard like St Kilda Road, not an LA style spaghetti junction,’ Cr Fristacky said.

Cr Fristacky said extending the reach of public transport to the rapidly growing outer suburbs is absolutely essential.

‘We applaud the extension to South Morang, Sunbury electrification and the new Tarneit line but we remain very concerned about public transport in the outer east and south east.

‘The plan fails to meet major gaps in public transport. There’s not enough being done to increase the reach, speed and capacity of public transport to the east and south east.’

Cr Fristacky said the MTF has also questioned why there were no extensions to current tram routes.

Here's a link to the government's announcement

What do you think?

Leaked plan: Too little, too late?

Leaked details of the long awaited Government transport plan have been reported in today's papers. The Age and Herald-Sun. More trams and trains are on the shopping list, and the rail line to South Morang gets a tick. Public transport supporters will be very keen to see the details, especially the construction timetable. No doubt there will be disappointment about Doncaster and Rowville rail.

(Pictured: The end of the Epping line)

What do you think? Do these leaks make you feel positive about the looming transport plan?

Fix public transport, Brumby urged: The Age

ALMOST two thirds of Victorians are unhappy with the State Government's handling of public transport, and an equal number say new public transport should be given priority over roads.

As the Brumby Government prepares to release its multibillion-dollar transport plan next month, Victorians have sent a clear message of frustration to the Government over its handling of public transport.

A special Age/Nielsen poll found 61 per cent of people are dissatisfied with the Brumby Government on public transport — and only 27 per cent are satisfied.

Read The Age report in full

Acording to The Age, sources close to the strategy expect it to include:
¦ planning to begin on linking the Metropolitan Ring Road at Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway or EastLink;
¦ plans for the $700 million Frankston Bypass;
¦ at least 60 new trams and 40 new trains;
¦ a $200 million tram depot at Preston;
¦ a new $1 billion rail line between Werribee and Sunshine to speed up V/Line trains from Geelong; and
¦ a new toll road linking the western suburbs to the east.
A senior Government source also confirmed the $7 billion rail tunnel from Footscray to Caulfield would be included in the plan, but construction would not start until 2014.
The tunnel's first stage would take four years to build.

Where's the new rail to the North or East? Rowville, Doncaster, South Morang/Mernda shunned again? Would you be satisfied with these plans to improve public transport?

New timetable - better or worse?

Today is the first day of a new train timetable - with big changes to the Werribee line and how it connects to the city.

The changes are:

Werribee weekday peak services will travel direct to Flinders Street via Southern Cross Station allowing for two extra morning peak services on both the Werribee and Sydenham lines. This will occur during morning peak 6.42am and 8.23am, and during the afternoon between 4.08pm and 5.48pm.
Werribee passengers wanting to travel through the City Loop can change trains at Southern Cross or at North Melbourne Stations.
The 9.51am Werribee to Flinders Street service will no longer run.

Share your experiences of the new timetable ... Add your comment ...

Transport plan in doubt - send a message

The Age is reporting that plans for a dramatic redesign of Melbourne's transport system may have been scaled back as Canberra threatens to take off the table billions of dollars promised for major projects.

Read The Age story in full

We've made it easy for you to tell Mr Brumby and Mr Lenders how you feel about public transport - just click here to go to our 'email the premier' page

Use this blog to share your feelings with others. Make a comment

Prof Peter Newman on bus vs rail in Perth

Professor Peter Newman explains the decision of transport authorities to opt for rail over bus when they wanted to expand their public transport. See part 2 for the rest of the story.

Invest in PT says councils: ABC News

The Age: Flinders Street dangerously overcrowded

THE AGE: Hundreds of commuters crammed into Flinders Street Station yesterday, forcing trains to pull into packed platforms and leading to calls for more trains to cope with surging passenger numbers.
- 'Dangerously overcrowded'

- Connex investigating

- Platform 'blocked by commuters'

Read the full report

What is your experience of our platforms at peak hour?

... it must be awful to be a driver on these buses

I want to talk about buses. I regularly get 201 from Box Hill (East Balwyn for me) to the Carlton Elgin/Lygon run. I go to volunteer at a bookshop. I attend once a week.

The buses run every 25 mins. They are rarely on time. Not the poor
drivers fault because the bus runs are awful. There is a bus stop about every 50/60 meters with one person who needs to give money. It so
slow. It takes about 45 mins to drop me at Victoria and Lygon and another 25mins down to the back of Myers for the rest of the poor buggers.

Coming home it is even slower - lots of students Uni and high schools.
Just about every stop from Kew onwards is used. The whole journey is noisy, slow and it must be awful to be a driver on these buses.

Sincerely yours.

Nina

Messages to our MPs in the West

Comments from letters to MP from commuters:

From a Werribee line customer, there's not much point complaining to Kosky. When the new Werribee Line Timetable comes out, and she's stopping our peak services going through the loop, that's when the complaints will start. She wont realise the impact, until the state election, when her constituents turn on her. Kennett tried to tried to dump on us, and look what happened to him. Western Suburbs people don't forget stupid government decisions.

Ian
Western suburbs resident

I urge you not to forget those on the Sydenham line which I believe has well and truly reached capacity during peak hour. It is becoming more and more difficult to board the train at Sunshine each morning not to mention dangerous. Please consider building another train line for the west, or using the train line that currently runs through Ardeer and is only used for Vline trains, perhaps it would better serve the community and in particular residents of Deer Park, Ardeer, Caroline Springs & West Sunshine to have this train line used also for suburban trains. I fear that an accident is going to occur on the Sydenham due to the amount of people that already travel on this line. People are fainting as they are so crammed in, this is only in winter, it is only going to get worse in summer. Please do something to help.

Natalie
Caroline Springs Resident

Please invest in public transport. We'll happily stay off the roads if the infrastructure is there to make trains viable for us.
Years ago, no one talked about public transport in the office. Now people are retiring early from their city jobs because they can no longer stand the commute. Every day our colleagues have gripes about the trip to work. So much for work/life balance.

Nicole
Point Cook

From The Age letter (15 Aug): Beware the backlash

INNER-CITY residents recognise the need for government to invest in public transport for neglected growth suburbs. Currently, two-thirds of Melbourne has no practical alternative to cars. Without investment in sustainable alternatives, more people will be left behind or burdened with larger transport costs.
Inner-city residents also recognise that apart from being unfair, Government failure to extend public transport to growth areas has caused congestion, poor air quality, poor street amenity, and extra road costs in inner areas.
The solution for all climate change-sensitive governments is to rapidly expand investment in infrastructure for public transport, cycling and walking. With fuel price increases and peak oil, inner and outer residents will inevitably rely on these modes.
Shaun Carney (Comment & Debate, 13/8) highlights the fact that "governments are made and broken in the outer suburbs". The Government can expect to face a major electoral backlash in inner and outer suburbs for failing to meet these alternative transport needs.
Jackie M. Fristacky (councillor, City of Yarra), North Carlton

Is access to public transport an issue that unites or divides inner and outer Melbourne? What do you think?

Melton goes online with petition

Mayor Sam David (Brimbank) and Mayor Bruce Rowan (Melton) were at Melton Station recently to encourage commuters to sign the pt4me2 petition calling for better public transport in Melbourne’s West.

The Mayors joined in with other councils in the Western region to voice their support for improved rail services on the Bacchus Marsh line which takes in the rapidly growing areas of Melton, Caroline Springs and Deer Park.

Add your voice http://www.pt4me2.org.au/west/index_2.html