2 Sept 2010: SEQ: It is time for the transport paradigm change

[ozbob]

Media Release 2 September 2010

SEQ:  It is time for the transport paradigm change

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the release of the Draft Integrated Regional Transport Plan Connecting SEQ 2031 particularly the refocus on rail as the backbone of a modern transport plan (1).

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The draft Connecting SEQ 2031 draft plan highlights that over the last 20 years the percentage of trips to work by car has increased whilst the percentages of public transport and cycling/walking trips has generally declined (Page 17).  This is despite an increase in public transport patronage of over 50% since 1998. (Page 12).  The plan also shows that people are travelling further than ever before.  This clearly shows that the transport policies of the last 20 years have increased car usage when the intention was to reduce it."

"In the recent Federal Election campaign, the Greens highlighted that in the 30 years to 2004 the Federal Government spent $58 billion on roads, $2.2 billion on rail and only $1.5 billion on public transport and that the Government's failure to strike a balance between road and rail has resulted in more cars and trucks on the roads, peak hour traffic chaos, increased travel time and worsening air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions." (2)

"The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport (3) in 2009 found that it is by now generally accepted, including by road authorities, that urban traffic congestion cannot be solved by building roads and that building roads encourages the growth of traffic and entrenches patterns of urban development that create high car use. They also noted that past transport studies and experience have shown that building freeways does not solve congestion and they in fact increase congestion in the long term"

"The recent Independent Public Inquiry into Sydney's Long Term Public Transport Plan (4) also found that around the world there is now a major resurgence in public transport within and between cities. This resurgence is being driven by, above all else, bare-faced pragmatism.  It responds to a now widespread recognition that:

    * The increasing levels of congestion caused by motor vehicles cannot be overcome by relying on further decentralisation and endless road building, and

    * Public transport offers tremendous advantages in providing essential accessibility in a world faced with global warming, local and regional environmental pollution, potentially serious future oil shortages and other environmental, energy and economic constraints."

"The Independent Inquiry went as far as recommending that the proposed regional transport authority have veto rights over new motorways and freeways."

"We have spent 50 years now trying to build enough road infrastructure to cater for traffic growth when it it is the road infrastructure itself that drives traffic growth. Growth that has less to do with population growing and a lot to do with the same population driving further more often".

"The proposed new and expanded motorways/highways will only result in more cars and trucks on the roads, peak hour traffic chaos, increased travel time and worsening air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The exact opposite of every goal stated in Connecting SEQ 2031. Despite all the exciting public and active transport proposals in the Draft Connecting SEQ 2031 plan, it still remains too road centric to achieve its desired outcomes.  We need to aiming for higher public transport targets and properly support the public transport network with high frequency services, particularly rail from tomorrow."

"The fundamental reason why the mode share of public transport did not match the 1997 projections of 10.5% (actual 7%) was due to the failure to improve train frequency, bus frequency was improved but rail was left to languish (5)."

References:

1.   Draft Connecting SEQ 2031 http://www.connectingseq.qld.gov.au/

2.   http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/public-transport-should-be-priority-greens/story-e6freonf-1225896391290

3.   http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/rrat_ctte/public_transport/report/report.pdf

4.   http://transportpublicinquiry.com.au/

5.   29 July 2010: SEQ: It's 'frequency' stupid ... http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4169.0


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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