TTA Bill in Parliament this week

[ozbob]

Amongst the bills being introduced into parliament this week is this one sure to be of interest to all:


Transport Operations (Translink Transit Authority) Bill, Minister for Transport.

This Bill will create the new transit authority for South East Queensland the TransLink Transit Authority, which will revolutionise public transport in this region. It will be a single point of contact for customer comments and queries. It will further integrate bus, rail and ferry services, and deliver significant improvements in allocating resources across the network.

The TransLink Transit Authority will be invaluable in tackling the growing challenges of traffic congestion and climate change. It will become operational from 1 July, 2008.

From Premier Statement BILLS FOR INTRODUCTION IN PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK

For Parliamentary Week beginning Tuesday 29 April 2008

[ozbob]

I hope it does indeed 'revolutionise public transport' 

Don't forget the Translink Transit Authority online consultation, click here!

Closing date for feedback is 7 May 2008.

[Fares_Fair]

It will be interesting to see who is placed on the 9 member TTA board,
especially since they will report directly to the Transport Minister.

I would hope that none of the Minister's current advisors are included -
their approach to date has been abysmal, and an embarrassment to the Minister.

Here is a chance for the Queensland Government to be seen to be open and accountable,
particularly in regards to the public transport sector.

TIme will tell ... 

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
29/04/2008

Translink Transport Authority moves forward

Transport Minister John Mickel has introduced legislation into State Parliament to establish Southeast Queensland's new integrated transport authority.

Mr Mickel said the TransLink Transit Authority will begin operating from 1 July, 2008.

"The new transit authority will be a one-stop shop for public transport services, customer service and feedback," he said.

"It will have greater control over service delivery, with the power and flexibility to improve services, convenience and reliability."

Mr Mickel said the authority featured a single point of contact for customer service and information and integrated scheduling and ticketing.

"The authority will also integrate public transport services, and deliver and manage the infrastructure on which those services operate," he said.

"It will have the freedom and power to co-ordinate services, redeploy resources such as buses based on demand, and ensure the smooth introduction of new tec hnology across the network."

The new authority will become the one point of contact for the 17 different train, bus and ferry operators in the region.

Mr Mickel said commuters will be able to ring the 13 12 30 information number 24 hours a day, seven days a week, always with the option of communicating with a person, rather than a recorded message.

"A single transport authority will prove invaluable in tackling the challenges facing transport planners and government, such as traffic congestion and climate change."

The Minister said the State Government had investigated national and international transport authority structures to find the model best suited to Southeast Queensland.

The TransLink Transit Authority will be a statutory body with seven board members, including the chief executive officer of Queensland Transport.

It will also include a non-elected representative from at least one local government that substantially funds passenger transport services.

Other board members will represent consumer and employee interests, transport co-ordination and planning, law, accounting, economics, social policy, customer relations, and commercial and marketing development.

Mr Mickel said the Authority would build on the success of TransLink, which had seen public transport patronage increase by more than 30 per cent since it was formed in 2004.

"Trips have increased from 119 million a year to more than 160 million a year," he said.

"We will now have an authority with the grunt to ensure scheduling, services and planning are synchronised to deliver the public transport our growing population needs.

April 29, 2008

==============================================================

[Mozz]

"Other board members will represent consumer and employee interests, transport co-ordination and planning, law, accounting, economics, social policy, customer relations, and commercial and marketing development".

Public transport commuters, public transport commuter, public transport commuters, public transport commuter, public transport commuters (the most important and valuable stakeholders in the whole system) .......... can we please have a representative from the millions of people who use public transport, please, please, please, please

[ozbob]

Transport Operations (TransLink Transit Authority) Bill 2008 -->  here! PDF

Explanatory notes for the above bill --> here! PDF

Translink is now TransLink 

TransLink Transit Authority

[ozbob]

I note this from explanatory notes Clause 43:

Clause 43 ?Fare strategies? places a requirement on the Authority to
provide to the Minister for approval a fare strategy for each 5 year period
(from commencement of the Authority), or for a shorter period if directed
by the Minister about recommendations to fares for mass transit services
under service contracts for the TransLink area. The fare strategy will
include cost indexation and will deal with a range of other matters
including options for the delivery of off-peak go card pricing, different
products as well as examining options relating to zone changes and
premium pricing. A fare strategy can not be implemented unless it has
been approved by the Minister. Once approved, the fare strategy could
facilitate regular approvals of fare increases by the Minister. The fare
strategy will be developed with state policy settings embedded, for
example concessional fares.

[Mozz]

Hmmm - a fair fare strategy to promote the use of public transport rather than trying trying in vain to operate public transport as a business venture would be more appropriate me thinks.

[ozbob]

There is the possibility of public transport commuter representative on the board.  I doubt though that a board member would be appointed on that basis only.

It would have been better IMHO to have a permanent board position for representative of the most important stakeholder, the public transport commuter.

From the Bill page 17  Board Membership

21. A person may be appointed as an appointed member only if
the person is not a disqualified person and the person?
(a) has extensive knowledge of and experience in 1 or more
of the following?
(i) the representation of the interests of customers of
public transport services;
(ii) the representation of the interests of employees in
the public transport sector;
(iii) transport coordination and operational planning;
(iv) public transport network planning;
(v) law, economics or accounting;
(vi) social policy;
(vii) customer relations;
(viii)commercial and marketing development; or
(b) has other knowledge and experience the Minister considers appropriate.

[mufreight]

On this should rest the future of not only the Minister but the Government, if they drop the ball again on this and transport generall they will have to go, the problem is can the voters of Queensland affort the actual cost if they make another mess of transport?

Just a thought, but it might get some reasonable results if you ask your local MP and suggest that he/she could be standing on a rather slippery banana skin come next election.

Over to you

[Mozz]

I would hope that at least one member of the board, and hopefully more actually use public transport as their primary form of transport, not occasionally but as a primary source of transport.

[Fares_Fair]

It will be interesting to see who is placed on the 9 member TTA board,
especially since they will report directly to the Transport Minister.

I would hope that none of the Minister's current advisors are included -
their approach to date has been abysmal, and an embarrassment to the Minister.

Here is a chance for the Queensland Government to be seen to be open and accountable,
particularly in regards to the public transport sector.

TIme will tell ... 

Excerpt from TransLink website retrieved 29.04.08 at 9:10pm ..

"The TransLink Transit Authority will be a statutory body with a board of nine members including the Chief Executive Officers of Queensland Transport and Queensland Treasury and a non-elected representative from at least one local government that substantially funds passenger transport services."

Correction to Previous Post.

I noticed on the TransLink web site that they state there would be 9 board members,
and I made mention of this in a recent post above - but a reading of today's Hansard stated only 7.

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
14/05/2008

TransLink Transport Authority Bill introduced

The Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel, today introduced the TransLink Transport Authority Bill into State Parliament.

Mr Mickel said the new transit authority would be a tremendous boost for southeast Queensland commuters, as it was a one-stop shop for public transport services, customer service and feedback.

With the new legislation introduced in the House, the TransLink Transit Authority has entered the home stretch before commencing operation on 1 July, 2008.

"One of the best outcomes for commuters will be coordinated scheduling of different forms of transport," the Minister said.

"The effect will be passengers experiencing one continuous journey rather than planning separate journeys to reach their destination."

Mr Mickel said the Authority would provide integrated scheduling of services to and from special events, affording passengers seamless travel on TransLink services while they go to and from sporting and entertainment events.

"It will have the freedom and power to co-ordinate services, redeploy resources such as buses based on demand, and ensure the smooth introduction of new technology across the transport network.

The new TransLink Transit Authority will be comprised of a board of seven members including the chair person.

"The new authority will provide a single point of contact for customer service issues for the 17 different train, bus and ferry operators in south east Queensland," he said.

The Minister said a single transport authority would prove invaluable in tackling the challenges facing transport planners and government, such as traffic congestion and climate change.

He said for the first time in Queensland commuters would be able to ring the 13 12 30 information number 24 hours a day, seven days a week, always with the option of communication with a person, rather than a recorded message.

"Cu stomers will be able to call one number for all services, whether they're about lost property, timetables or complaints," Mr Mickel said.

"It will have greater control over service delivery, with the power and flexibility to improve services, convenience and reliability.

"The Authority will build on the success of TransLink, which has seen public transport patronage increase by more than 30 per cent since it was formed in 2004.

"We will soon have an authority equipped to deliver an exceptional public transport service for our growing population needs."

May 14, 2008

[ozbob]

See --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=83.msg3880#msg3880