3 Jun 2014: SEQ: Budget fails to address the fare failure in SEQ

[ozbob]

Media release 3rd June 2014

SEQ: Budget fails to address the fare failure in SEQ

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the 2014/15 State Budget has let the opportunity to fix the failed fare system slide by.  This will be very costly as subsidies increase and patronage continues to fall, with commensurate broader flow on costs to the health sector, with congestion and environmental impacts.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In what can only be described as a serious indictment on the public transport authorities, patronage on the SEQ public transport is projected to fall and the average cost of subsidy of each trip to increase in the budget. This is perverse."

"The fact that concession fares look like also being set at 35% instead of 50% of full fares, prior to the next years fare increase, means it is only going to cost more in the longer term directly and indirectly."

"The correct thing to do is fix the fare system. Easily done. This will in turn decrease the public subsidy and see patronage climb. Very desirable outcomes.  Outcomes that will not be achieved however under this Government."

Reference:

1. http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg142718#msg142718

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd June 2014

Re: SEQ: Budget fails to address the fare failure in SEQ

Greetings,

The real effects of setting concession fares at 35% discount of full fares (presently half 50%).

Zone one go card fare $3.53  present concession $1.77.  65% of $3.53 = $2.29  add to that 2.5% increase planned for Jan 2015 than  fare = $2.35

Then $2.35 - $1.77 =  .58/1.77 = 33% fare increase.  This can only be described as savage for the least able to afford it.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 59s

After 100% fare ^ since 2010, + 33% will break them .. hang your heads in shame @TransLinkSEQ @TMRQld @scottemersonmp @theqldpremier #qldpol

[Jonno]

Fare price totally ignores that public transit delivers 300% year on year financial ROI even before including less congestion or access & health improvements http://t.co/F6ux9b3VCN

From an individual household's perspective, public transit investments are often very cost effective. According to analysis described in our study, Raise My Taxes, Please! Evaluating Household Savings From High Quality Public Transit Service, providing high quality public transit service typically requires about $268 in annual subsidies and $108 in additional fares per capita, but reduces vehicle, parking and road costs an average of $1,040 per capita. This is more than a 300% annual financial return on investment, in addition to other benefits including congestion reductions, reduced traffic accidents, pollution emission reductions, improved mobility for non-drivers, and improved public fitness and health. Physically and economically disadvantaged people tend to enjoy particularly large savings and benefits since they rely on alternative modes and are price sensitive.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th June 2014

Comment: SEQ: Budget fails to address the fare failure in SEQ

Greetings,

The fundamental issue with public transport in SEQ is poor network design.  This in turn leads to high operating costs and the failed high cost fares.

The failure to support TransLink in 2013 with the proposed network changes is now coming home to roost.  Public transport users are being belted because of a failed political leadership group, previously ALP now LNP.

The present political leadership is apparently unable to make the real tough decisions and get on with it.  No, they just continue down the failed fare path with a failed fare system, rather than fixing it.

The limited data made available publicly already has the unaffordability of fares in SEQ at the worst levels ever.  Increasing fares for concession holders by over 30% is going to break them, particularly as fare increases since 2010 have been around 100% already.  This does not include the loss of periodical tickets such as daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tickets which means for some fare increases have been several hundreds of per cent.

We have reported our observations with fare evasion.  It is out of control on the network, and will probably get worse from here.  Two distinct technologies - go card and the obscenely priced paper tickets - is just making it worse for users and the authorities.

For the Minister for Transport to claim that hundreds of millions of dollars will be saved by only increasing fares 2.5% annually for the next three years is nonsense.  Because the network and fare system is in failure mode the costs of that mediocrity will swamp any notion of theoretical savings from only CPI increases or thereabout.  In fact commuters are not saving anything really but are having to pay more as taxpayers to continue to support failed political leadership.  Driving people away from public transport costs a lot more than a sound fare path.

I intend to conduct 'education' sessions for Seniors and other disadvantaged groups on the go card.  The go card is easily rorted and with the projected fare increases the only defence people will have will be to rort the system.  This in turn is going to lead to even more fare box leakage and increased fare subsidies.  Fix it?  No, lets just keeping on wandering down the path of mediocrity.

Smart jurisdictions understand that public transport (transit) delivers 300% year on year financial return of investment*.  Here in Queensland the preferred path is clearly high cost road congestion and grid lock.

It is time there was an inquiry into the failed public transport network and fare system in SEQ.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

* http://www.planetizen.com/node/69020

From an individual household's perspective, public transit investments are often very cost effective. According to analysis described in our study, Raise My Taxes, Please! Evaluating Household Savings From High Quality Public Transit Service, providing high quality public transit service typically requires about $268 in annual subsidies and $108 in additional fares per capita, but reduces vehicle, parking and road costs an average of $1,040 per capita. This is more than a 300% annual financial return on investment, in addition to other benefits including congestion reductions, reduced traffic accidents, pollution emission reductions, improved mobility for non-drivers, and improved public fitness and health. Physically and economically disadvantaged people tend to enjoy particularly large savings and benefits since they rely on alternative modes and are price sensitive.

Media release 3rd June 2014

SEQ: Budget fails to address the fare failure in SEQ

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the 2014/15 State Budget has let the opportunity to fix the failed fare system slide by.  This will be very costly as subsidies increase and patronage continues to fall, with commensurate broader flow on costs to the health sector, with congestion and environmental impacts.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In what can only be described as a serious indictment on the public transport authorities, patronage on the SEQ public transport is projected to fall and the average cost of subsidy of each trip to increase in the budget. This is perverse."

"The fact that concession fares look like also being set at 35% instead of 50% of full fares, prior to the next years fare increase, means it is only going to cost more in the longer term directly and indirectly."

"The correct thing to do is fix the fare system. Easily done. This will in turn decrease the public subsidy and see patronage climb. Very desirable outcomes.  Outcomes that will not be achieved however under this Government."

Reference:

1. http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

3rd June 2014

Re: SEQ: Budget fails to address the fare failure in SEQ

Greetings,

The real effects of setting concession fares at 35% discount of full fares (presently half 50%).

Zone one go card fare $3.53  present concession $1.77.  65% of $3.53 = $2.29  add to that 2.5% increase planned for Jan 2015 than  fare = $2.35

Then $2.35 - $1.77 =  .58/1.77 = 33% fare increase.  This can only be described as savage for the least able to afford it.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

Today on @NewsTalk4BC I made a plea to @theqldpremier & @scottemersonmp to not punish concession holders with massive fare increases #qldpol

[Fares_Fair]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

Today on @NewsTalk4BC I made a plea to @theqldpremier & @scottemersonmp to not punish concession holders with massive fare increases #qldpol

   this desperately needs to be addressed.

I cannot in all good conscience support such a hike on those who can least afford it.
Please Hon Scott Emerson MP, I know it is because of the federal budget cutbacks - but there must be a better way.

[ozbob]

http://www.4bc.com.au/blogs/2014-4bc-breakfast-audio-blog/concession-commuters-take-a-hit/20140604-39hpv.html

Concession commuters take a hit
Posted by: Candice Marshall | 4 June, 2014 - 8:10 AM

4BC Breakfast: The state budget announced yesterday brings good and bad news for southeast Queensland's public transport users.

Fares will rise by 2.5 per cent, but this increase has been capped, meaning no more unwanted surprises for commuters for at least three years.   

However, the bad news is for concession card holders, especially seniors and students who rely on affordable public transport.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls hinted the discount for concession fares could be reduced to 35 per cent instead of the current 50 per cent saving.

The prospect of this has angered commuter and  sustainable transport advocate Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track.

Mr Dow told Ian and Loretta seniors and students are already doing it hard.

For them to wear a fare increase, we think is unacceptable. We are pleading with the Premier, with the Minister for Transport, to not further increase fares for concession holders, he said.

Mr Dow said loss of access to affordable public transport will have a knock-on effect on the health of seniors.

"They need to get out and about, if you reduce the mobility of the aged, you end up having a lot greater costs to the healthcare sector. The lose their social mobility, their health and well being suffers.

"Are these really outcomes that we want for our community?" 

Interview --> here!

[ozbob]

Channel 10 News Brisbane 4th June 2014  home filming off TV, bit noisy.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 5th June 2014 page 15

Failed transport system