13 Dec 2014: Queensland Votes: Bus Reform is now Greens' Election Policy

[ozbob]

Media release 13th December 2014

Queensland Votes: Bus Reform is now Greens' Election Policy

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers calls all parties contesting the 2015 Queensland Election to unconditionally support bus reform.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track is a non-partisan organisation. We are more than happy to promote our ideas to anyone willing to listen to us. The Greens have released their 2015 election transport policy (1). "

"The Greens Support Bus Reform. Key features of their 2015 Election policy are:

* Public Transport Concessions extended to Health Care Card Holders (paragraph #21)
* Replace the controversial Tertiary Transport Concession Card with 'live' smartcards (paragraph #22)
* A new fare structure for South East Queensland (paragraph #26)
* Bus Reform (paragraph #27)

"We invite the other parties and independents contesting the 2015 Queensland Election to submit their transport policies to us at RAIL Back on Track."

Bus Reform means:

(1) Competitive Contracting;
(2) Bus Network Reform - routes and stop spacings

"The benefits of bus reform are enormous. Perth bus reform saw a 20% cost saving from introducing competitive contracting alone. Bus route redesign using existing resources in the Rockingham area saw a 40% patronage increase. By combining both organisational reform (contracting) with network reform (New Bus Network Proposal) patronage and revenue falls can be sharply reversed. Bus driver jobs will also be protected by growing patronage."

"Voters over such a wide area covering so many state electoral seats have been affected by the lack of bus reform and the high-cost explosive fares. A very large potential for an election featuring public transport as a key election issue has been put into motion. Our New Bus Network Reform Proposal (http://tiny.cc/newnetwork) affects 30% of the seats in Queensland Parliament (approximately 26 electoral districts out of the 89 in Queensland)."

"Only genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform will guarantee abundant and low cost public transport for all."

Reference:

1. Queensland Greens Transport Policy Statement http://qld.greens.org.au/qld/policy/transport

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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