Article: Public transport needs urgent attention

[ozbob]

From National Nine News click here!

Public transport needs urgent attention

Australian urban railways are running at capacity and the federal government needs to pour at least $10 billion into meeting public transport demand, an expert panel warns.

Speaking at the launch of Bus Expo 2008 in Melbourne, Professor Graham Currie, the chair of public transport at Melbourne's Monash University, said failure to fund public transport would damage the national economy.

"The railways are full - we need to solve the railway capacity problem," he told reporters.

"We need to act now to find a solution - it has an impact on our economy because mobility is going to start declining.

"It's a dire problem."

Prof Currie said business would slow down as cities became more gridlocked.

He said car-dependent disadvantaged families living on city fringes would fare the worst from a lack of public transport.

Prof Currie was one of several academics who spoke of the need for public transport investment at the Bus Expo opening.

The federal government said investing in public transport was on its agenda, but only where it was not the responsibility of the states.

"The Rudd Labor government has clearly put Commonwealth involvement in the delivery of public transport infrastructure back on the national agenda ... and we welcome suggestions from all sections of the community," a spokesman for federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.

The $10 billion investment call was welcomed by Greens Senator Christine Milne, who said it was the only way to give Australians permanent relief from rising oil and carbon prices.

"The Greens have long been calling for a complete rethink of transport policy in Australia, reprioritising funding from roads across to mass transit infrastructure, bike paths and walkways," she said in a statement.

"In a world where climate change and peak oil are realities that we must plan for, and where traffic congestion and air pollution are driving people up the wall, the positive and sensible course of action is to help people get out of their cars by providing cheap and convenient alternatives."

Victorian Premier John Brumby said a soon-to-be established federal $20 billion Building Australia fund could help bridge the transport funding gap.

The debate came amid revelations the Victorian government will consider filling the gap in Melbourne's Metropolitan Ring Road by linking it to the EastLink tollway, opened last month.

Mr Brumby said all options were on the table and did not rule out tolls if the government proceeded with the project.

[ozbob]

We have been calling for this for years ....   lets see some action!

[#Metro]

It seems that despite recent, large increases in Public Transport usage, this is just a small blip in the overall picture. Car usage still dominates and is still the dominating choice of transport to and from work or study.

The increased use of public transport by adults for travel to work or study between 1996 and 2006 is reflected across most capital cities. Overall, public transport use grew by 17% for all capital cities combined, with Melbourne experiencing the highest growth (35%).

However, cars still dominate (click http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Chapter10102008 for the ABS Report)