Victorian Budget 2012-2013

[ozbob]

Coalition invests in transport for the future
From the Minister for Public Transport
01/05/2012

Coalition invests in transport for the future

The Victorian Coalition Government is investing more than half a billion dollars in the 2012-13 Budget for public transport initiatives to cater for growth across the state.

Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the Coalition Government was taking the responsible and necessary approach to put aside hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase additional rail carriages for the regional rail network.

"The Budget is shaped by the very real and serious challenges of the present, but it is focused on securing the future," Mr Mulder said.

"Patronage on the regional rail network is continuing to experience record growth and unlike the previous Labor Government, we know we cannot afford to ignore those realities.

"When the new Regional Rail Link project is completed, the extra regional services that will be able to run in peak periods will see thousands more passengers accommodated on V/Line services.

"The additional rolling stock provided for in this year's Budget will allow the Coalition Government to introduce new services as soon as Regional Rail Link is complete in 2016."

Mr Mulder said there was also significant investment in regional rail maintenance to improve reliability of services.

"Another $171.9 million will be directed into the system as part of our efforts to address the maintenance backlog left by the previous Labor Government," Mr Mulder said.

"This Budget is about investing in a record state infrastructure spend to drive economic activity, productivity and jobs."

Mr Mulder said other public transport projects to be funded in the 2012-13 State Budget included:

        $5.5 million for the Route 601 express bus to Monash University;
        $10.7 million for the Warragul Station Precinct ongoing redevelopment; and
        $8.4 million for Grovedale Station.

"The Route 601 express bus service to Monash University was an initiative of the Coalition Government that was trialled last year," Mr Mulder said

"Following a successful trial with up to 10,000 passengers each week during the semester, the Route 601 express bus service to Monash University will be funded as an ongoing public transport service to help students and staff get to the university quickly, efficiently and affordably."

Mr Mulder said providing infrastructure to cater for growing areas in regional Victoria was also a key priority for the government in this year's Budget.

"We are providing for growth in existing regional areas such as Warragul as well as new growth areas such as Armstrong Creek near Geelong," Mr Mulder said.

Mr Mulder said the extra $10.7 million for the Warragul Station Precinct redevelopment would provide for additional car parking and a new bus interchange at the station.

"This year's funding for Warragul Station Precinct, on top of the money allocated in last year's Budget, will help to alleviate congestion in Warragul's town centre and provide extra car parking for the growing number of people who access train services at Warragul Station."

Mr Mulder said funding for Grovedale Station would progress planning and establishment for the new facility.

"The Coalition Government made an election commitment to build a new station at Grovedale by 2014 to cater for the booming suburbs of southern Geelong and the Surf Coast," Mr Mulder said.

"The budget allocation of $8.4 million to allow critical planning and establishment works affirms this commitment."

Mr Mulder said growth across the public transport network and the backlog of infrastructure projects and maintenance continued to be a challenge but that this year's Victorian Budget delivered a number of important projects to help cater for future growth.

[ozbob]

PTUA http://www.ptua.org.au/2012/05/01/vic-budget-2012/

Vic budget: V/Line trains and level crossing eliminations good news, but what about trams and buses?
May 1st, 2012 (Media releases)

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed state budget funding for more V/Line carriages and for three level crossing eliminations, but noted there was little new funding for bus and tram services, nor any funding to complete Southland station, as promised before the 2010 election.

"V/Line patronage is booming, and the extra carriages are desperately needed", said PTUA President Daniel Bowen. "While a few carriages will become available once the Sunbury electrification project is finished, the government clearly needed to act on ordering more.

"Passengers unable to find a seat, forced to sit in the aisles or stand for long periods of time, have become a regular occurrence on V/Line services. Expansion of the fleet is very welcome, and needs to be matched by a commitment to more frequent services, including at off-peak times when V/Line services currently run only once an hour.

"Let's hope they don't prematurely scrap older V/Line carriages as the new ones come in – we don't want a repeat of the Hitachi trains fiasco."

Mr Bowen said grade separation projects at Springvale Road, Springvale, as well as Mitcham and Rooks Roads in Mitcham would improve safety, and reduce delays for bus passengers, cyclists and pedestrians, as well as motorists.

But new funding for buses is limited to one route[1], and there is no commitment to fulfil the election commitments to construct Southland station, and to expand by 10 the current order for new trams[2].

"The very successful Monash University express shuttle bus trial has received recurrent funding, which is good news, but there is nothing at all for the rest of the bus and tram networks, and very little for Metro trains.

"If you're in Melbourne's outer suburbs, waiting an hour between buses, or squashed in like a sardine on trams and buses, there's nothing for you in this budget", said Mr Bowen.

"Despite it being a key pledge, we're still waiting for Southland station, and so far the railway lines to Rowville and Doncaster have not moved past the study stage.

"Meanwhile the government is pushing ahead with the east-west road tunnel, which will merely entrench car-dependency, and do nothing to solve traffic congestion — in fact it may well make it even worse by encouraging more traffic into Melbourne's inner-north. This represents a clear change in priority from public transport towards roads, and is bad news for Melbourne's future sustainability and liveability."

Mr Bowen warned that the government needed to push ahead on bringing high quality, frequent public transport services to more of Melbourne.

"The last election swung on public transport issues. Melburnians are looking for solutions to their transport woes, and the best fix traffic congestion is providing more frequent train, tram and Smartbus services right across Melbourne."

* * *

[1] Government press release
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/3771-coalition-invests-in-transport-for-the-future.html

[2] 2011 Budget Paper 3, Chapter 1, "Election commitments to be funded in future years" – page 77. (Note: 2012 Budget Paper does not list individual unfunded commitments.)

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Public sector jobs to go in biggest cuts since Kennett

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Little relief for Metro commuters

Little relief for Metro commuters
Reid Sexton and Clay Lucas
May 2, 2012

MELBOURNE public transport commuters received little relief in this year's budget, which revealed the cost of the troubled myki ticketing system has blown out by another $150 million.

Transport advocates have slammed the budget for its lack of investment in improving service delivery or reducing overcrowding that plagues passengers daily.

While the budget contains millions for new V/Line trains, Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said it virtually ignored Melbourne passengers. ''If you're on Metro there's very little for you,'' he said. ''If you're on the buses there's very little for you, if you're on the trams there's nothing at all for you.

''There's clearly a long way to go when you've got trains that are crowded, unbelievably delayed, cancelled, trams that are stuck in traffic [and] buses that are stuck in traffic.''

The budget reveals the cost of introducing myki, which is becoming increasingly prominent across the system and will fully replace Metcard at year's end, is at least $150 million more than when it was last estimated in the 2010-11 budget.

The latest blowout brings the project cost to about $1.5 billion, with the new money being spent on extending the Metcard system and installing new vending machines and validators to cope with demand.

Greens MP Greg Barber said the government was wasting money that should be used to improve Melbourne's public transport services.

''Ted Baillieu said he would fix myki. What he's done is [throw] ... millions more at the contractor that failed us so badly the first time.''

The budget reveals the number of trains that will run next financial year remains virtually static, with Melbourne's trains to cover 21.7 million kilometres.

While this is up from just 21.4 million kilometres this financial year, in a boost attributed to the opening of South Morang station, the cost of running Melbourne's trains will jump by $51 million.

Another $50 million will be thrown at the Melbourne Metro project, after federal funding of $40 million granted in 2009 ran out.

There is no start date for the project, which would see a new underground rail line from South Kensington to South Yarra.

A frequent bus from Monash University to Huntingdale railway station that had run as a one-year trial will be put on permanently. Mr Bowen said this was the only bus service to receive a boost while there was no new tram-related funding.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Richardson said the budget was ''another kick in the guts'' for commuters but Transport Minister Terry Mulder denied that it ignored Melbourne commuters.

He pointed to the $350 million level crossing removal projects at Mitcham, Rooks and Springvale roads as evidence something was being done.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/little-relief-for-metro-commuters-20120501-1xxaa.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Leader click here!

STATE BUDGET: Green light for inner-city road link, rail tunnel

STATE BUDGET: Green light for inner-city road link, rail tunnel

1 May 12 @ 05:30pm by Nic Price

TWO major inner-city transport projects have won backing in the 2012-13 State Budget, with preliminary drilling for the controversial East West road link to start within weeks.

The budget provides $15 million for planning the link from the Eastern Freeway to Kensington, and almost $50 million for the Melbourne Metro rail tunnel under the CBD.

Preliminary work on the East West Link - including geotechnical drilling, and engineering and environmental surveys - will begin shortly as the government prepares plans and a business case for the multi-billion dollar project.

"We will work closely with the community to plan out a project that responds to local concerns and delivers the cross-city alternative to alleviate congestion and ensure travel time reliability for families and freight," Roads and Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said.

The project (which could take the form of a tunnel or overpass) is supported by the RACV, but opposed by local resident and environmental groups and federal Greens member for Melbourne Adam Bandt.

"The only way this tollway will be built is if the Federal Government helps fund it and I will doing everything I can to stop that," Mr Bandt said.

Meanwhile, the budget had $49.7 million for the proposed Melbourne Metro rail tunnel, which would pass under the CBD from Footscray to the Domain with five underground stations along the way.

Mr Mulder said the funds would be used to buy land along the proposed route so it could proceed quickly when it secured federal funding.

"Melbourne Metro will strengthen and expand the inner core of the rail network and provide extra capacity to increase services and improve public transport across Melbourne," Mr Mulder said.

Melbourne Council supports the project, while Federal Government body Infrastructure Australia in 2010 classified the $4.9 billion first stage of the project as "ready to proceed".

[Stillwater]

Victoria proceeds to buy the land for a major new rail initiative in Melbourne that has 'ready to proceed' status from Infrastructure Australia.  Brisbane also has in planning a new rail initiative, CRR, that has 'ready to proceed' status from Infrastructure Australia.  What will the Queensland government do to indicate its support for CRR, or another cross-river rail relief project yet to be defined when it brings down a Queensland state budget in September?  Err, we don't know.

Consider then the federal government.  It has a limited bucket of money to allocate to major transport infrastructure projects.  Melbourne has the plans and the land and the tick from IA and has indicated a willingness to proceed.

Here's how the phone call between Anthony Albanese, the federal Minister for Infrastructure, and his state transport counterpart Scott Emerson is likely to go:

A:  Mate, we gave you guys the money to prepare the business case for CRR because you wanted us to give you billions of dollars without first doing your homework and now we have got Queensland to the point where it can compete in the big race with other states for the prizemoney at the other end of the track, I need to know that you will be a starter.

E:  I don't know, I will have to check with CanDo and the head of my department.  Can I get back to you?

A:  That'as always the story from Queensland.  You have got to strike while the iron is hot.  Are you in the race or not?  Should we consider you a contender against Melbourne, Sydney and Perth?  Can we rely upon you to be there for the Infrastructure Stakes?

E:  CanDo made some mention about running a different race.  Can the other states run their race on your track and then Queensland will run very fast on another track at some stage in the future and we can compare the times after that?

A:  What are you talking about? 

E:  Well, I am just flagging that there may be a change of plans.

A:  What are they?

E:  I don't know.  If we don't run the race, can some of the prizemoney equal to Queensland's share be set aside so that the other states can compete for the remainder of the prize pool and we will trot around the track in a year or two to qualify for the heldover bit?

A:  It's a bloody race!  First in, up front with all their planning and with construction waiting to happen gets the prize , plain and simple.  Melbourne's going to win this if you don't get in there.

E:  That's not fair.  I am sure that whatever CanDo has in mind will put in a better performance.

A:  Mate, you have lost the plot.

(Click)..... dial tone.

[ozbob]

pt4me2

http://www.pt4me2.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/public-transport-left-behind.html

02 May 2012

Public transport left behind

'It's a sad fact that the best thing for public transport in this state budget is a shuttle bus to Monash University,' says Metropolitan Transport Forum Chair, Cr Tom Melican.

'As oil prices rise, congestion increases, population grows and the economy falters, we hoped that more efficient and sustainable transport would be a priority. But metropolitan public transport has been left behind in this state budget.

'Where is public transport to support the growth corridors, tram and bus priority, station amenity, real time information and ensuring the bus meets the train?

'The budget papers anticipate increasing public transport use, particularly bus and tram, but there are no additional dollars for these services – just more overcrowding, congested routes and lack of services.

'The new train at South Morang was full the day it opened, illustrating the pent-up demand in the growth corridors.

'Expanding services to growth areas needs to be a priority. If we can't support growth areas, we can't afford to let them grow.

'Growth corridors don't have to do without sewerage or power, or lobby for gas or water; surely public transport is just as vital to new communities?   
   
'All projections point to a rapidly growing Melbourne, but where is the growing public transport to match?

'This budget asks current public transport users to tolerate crowded, substandard conditions and those without public transport to wait indefinitely.'

[Jonno]

I like their

The trains are full, the freeways jammed – Melbourne needs a better public transport plan

Brisbane would be "The buses are full, the train infrequent, the freeways jammed – Brisbane needs a better transport plan"

[somebody]

Melbourne seem to be doing more right than any other Australian city, despite the criticisms.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Bike chief slams budget

Bike chief slams budget
Reid Sexton
May 3, 2012 - 12:00AM

BICYCLE Network Victoria has slammed the state budget, saying it reversed 20 years of progress.

Its chief, Harry Barber, said he was shocked by the decision to stop funding the VicRoads Bicycle Program, which delivers bicycle infrastructure across the state.

He said high-priority infrastructure projects planned for next year, such as a cyclists' bridge over the Maribyrnong River at Footscray, had also not been funded.

"We never expected that the Baillieu government would reverse 20 years of gradual progress by both both sides of politics and shut down one of the most popular and effective programs in the government," he said.

"This decision is clearly not the result of a careful and measured budget reduction process, it is a deliberate policy decision to do nothing."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bike-chief-slams-budget-20120502-1xzpe.html