Extend earlybird ticketing call - from The Age

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http://www.theage.com.au/national/extend-early-bird-tickets-say-eastern-councils-20080926-4oce.html



Extend early bird tickets, say eastern councils
Clay Lucas
September 26, 2008 - 9:10AM
MELBOURNE'S free "early bird" train tickets should be extended to include buses and trams, according to a coalition of eastern suburb councils that represent one million Melburnians.

The train ticket, introduced by the Brumby Government in a bid to reduce overcrowding during the morning rush hour, allows free travel on all Melbourne lines if a journey is completed before 7am.

The Eastern Transport Coalition, which represents seven eastern suburbs councils, argues the ticket should be valid on buses and trams too.

Outer east residents were hopelessly dependent on their cars because public transport was so poor, ETC chairman Mick Van De Vreede said.

In a new transport plan to be given to the Brumby Government ahead of its upcoming transport statement, the ETC also argues for:

- Feasibility studies into new rail lines to Rowville and Doncaster, and the duplication of train lines to Belgrave and Lilydale.
- Tram route 75 to be extended to Knox City, and the route 48 tram extended to Doncaster
- Bus priority measures along Springvale Road, Stud Road, Cheltenham Road, Wellington Road, Doncaster Road, Hoddle Street and the CBD
- Increased frequency for off-peak trains on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines
- Bus routes into new housing estates in the outer east
- Upgrades to major public transport interchanges such as Ringwood and Dandenong

"We need a generational step up in public transport,'' Mr Van De Vreede said.

The new plan was put together in response to a request from Premier John Brumby and Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky at a community cabinet meeting in Ringwood.

Cr Van De Vreede said the group's plan would help fix eastern Melbourne's transport woes.

"In the eastern suburbs, three out of five people would consider getting out of their car's if they had decent public transport options," he said, pointing to a recent poll by the group.

Public transport usage in the seven council areas the ETC represents is between 3% to 7%  lower than other parts of Melbourne.

Premier Brumby is heading a cabinet subcommittee putting together the Victorian Transport Plan, its fourth "long-term'' transport strategy since 2002. The plan is expected to be released in November.

The ETC comprises councillors from Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash and Whitehorse councils.