Article: Stations off track, according to forum

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Times Weekly click here!

Stations off track, according to forum

Stations off track, according to forum
BY ALANA SCHETZER
20 Dec, 2011 01:00 AM
VICTORIA PARK railway station needs an urgent budget boost to bring it up to an acceptable standard, a transport lobby group says.

The Metropolitan Transport Forum made a submission for the government's 2012–13 budget, requesting up to $10 million to fix sub-standard train stations across the city, including Westgarth, Richmond and Thornbury stations.

The request follows a joint survey between MTF and lobby group pt4me2 in August, which revealed the best and worst stations in metropolitan Melbourne according to commuters.

MTF chairwoman Jackie Fristacky said the conditions of some stations were driving commuters away. "Key issues with commuters are that many stations suffer from lack of shelter, lighting, platform repairs, and functioning toilets. This makes the beginning and end of millions of trips an unpleasant experience."

The survey has been sent to Transport Minister Terry Mulder, in conjunction with the budget submission. The Department of Transport did not respond to a request for comment.

As part of the submission, the MTF also requested the government implement the Metropolitan Bus Review and fund an integration of major railway stations, including Richmond, with major activity centres.

[ozbob]

Full report is available --> here!  PDF 2MB external

Public agenda for stations

1. Immediate improvements: Clean up the stations, open the toilets and engage more
staff
This is a back to basics, no frills agenda. Stations are important public infrastructure. They
are public places. They are workplaces. They are the beginning and end of literallymillions
of journeys.
Yet nearly half of our respondents rated stations negatively. The task of changing these
perceptions is complex – as there are likely toomany factors – but the need for a back to
basics approach stood out in the responses.
i. Better cleaning, speedier graffiti removal, better cooperation with other
agencies responsible for station surrounds
ii. Open the toilets (and clean them)
iii. Staffmore stations, more often

2. Immediate infrastructure upgrades:More shelter, better amenity (especially in
pedestrian access), more facilities for bicycles, safer carparks, review of zones
Looking at themost poorly rated stations, the common theme is privative physical
infrastructure. Barren, shelter less platforms; dim, creepy, damp and dingy pedestrian
tunnels; amenity that gives the impression of criminal danger; and don't even think about
leaving a bicycle.
i. More shelter on platforms
ii. Specificallymore shelter on platforms at disabled traveller access points
iii. Better appearance and amenity in pedestrian access
iv. More facilities for locking bicycles
v. More and safer car parks
vi. Review of zones to alleviate problems at borderline stations, eg Glenroy,
Laverton

3. Better land use around stations
This theme emerges in a number of different guises. The public suggestedmore
commercial and community activity on and around platforms.Many councils have specific
better place plans for seamless integration of the station into the immediate locale. There
are also a number of specific initiatives to better use railway land for community purposes
(such as community gardens).
Many of these proposals are council-initiated and are well progressed. Some are stalled
awaiting decision fromstate authorities like VicRoads as well as DOT.

4. Integrated interchanges
A subset of the better land use around stations are plans to create transport interchanges
that integrate will with their surrounds.

5. Public transport upgrades to meet population projections
A number of councils are seeking to commence plans to improve public transport tomatch
anticipated increases in residential and commercial activity. A standout example of this are
improvements to South Yarra Station to accommodate amassive expansion of residential
development in the nearby area (known as Forrest Hill).

6. Co-ordinated action for better stations
Councils are keen to work with other stakeholders to improve stations and surrounding
areas tomaximise safety and positive community perceptions. By working more closely,
councils, operators and the state could increase the value of the outcomes for the public. A
number of councils have submitted ideas that are already in progress that offer the
potential for positive partnerships.We are hoping that theMinister could facilitate futher
co-operation in this area.