International Association of Public Transport - Melbourne wins award

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http://www.uitp.org/news/details-news.cfm?&id=158&lg=en

Yarra Trams, Melbourne, Australia, for the Best Accessibility Improvement Project

Melbourne?s public transport system must comply with the national Disability Discrimination Act by 2022. By the end of 2006 however only 112 of a total 1,776 tram stops had been upgraded to provide access to low floor trams for people with disabilities. Yarra Trams was commissioned to improve the situation, and built more accessible platform stops in the single year of 2007 (116) than between 1999 and 2006 (112). As a result average boarding time was reduced by 45% and running time on major streets was reduced by 25%.

UITP is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide co-operation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,100 members from 90 countries. UITP is the global advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. For more information on UITP and public transport, visit www.uitp.org.