COMING SHORTLY - CAST Statement on the 3 Billion Tunnel

We have opposed the concept and construction of the 3B
Tunnel from the time it was first proposed by Jim Soorley.

We're preparing a detailed statement to explain why we
continue to vigorously oppose the Tunnel, and why we urge
all motorists to boycott the Tunnel.

Keep checking this site for our full statement.

INFORMATION ALERT CIty Bus Stops relocated from Monday 8 March

Bus stops 56 and 57 on Queen Street near Post Office
Square will be temporarily closed from Monday 8
March to Wednesday 30 June due to streetscape
construction works.
Stop 58 will be moved by up to 20m in the direction
of travel and services from this stop will also be affected.

For full details of bus services affected and a map of
the location of the new stops, go to

http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?id=463

OUR SUBMISSIONS TO TRANSLINK AND OTHERS

We are continuing to make submissions on behalf of public transport users, cyclists and pedestrians to Translink, service providers and Government.

These are shown on the page below described as 'Submissions to Translink' together with current status and replies if any.

If you are aware of a transport service or systemic fault that needs to be rectified or improved, contact us and we'll follow up the issue with the relevant authority on your behalf.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Media 20 Nov

Better public transport essential to combat global warming

This statement has been jointly issued and supported by these State organisations:

- Community Action for Sustainable Transport Queensland
- Public Transport Users Association Victoria
- Action for Public Transport NSW
- People for Public Transport SA
- Sustainable Transport Coalition WA
- ACT Transit Group ACT

An alliance of State transport lobby groups has urged the major political parties to commit to funding public and rail freight transport at a national level. This commitment must be an integral part of a cost-effective and energy-efficient greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy.

The latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change indicates that the next Australian Government must take urgent and decisive action to avoid the destructive and irreversible impacts of climate change.

If Australia is to commit to achieving significant reductions in emissions by 2020 at the Bali conference in December, it will need to start planning now for a substantial reduction in emissions from transport.

"Transport accounts for 36% of household GHG emissions, and over 14% of total
national emissions. Most commuters know we need to fight global warming, but they want attractive transport options to encourage them to leave their cars at home and
walk, cycle or use public transport regularly," said spokesperson David White.

"Governments have to provide those options. Spending billions of dollars on new roads and tunnels will not solve the problem of congestion. It just means that we are not serious about confronting the issue of climate change. Cities overseas where more than 20% of trips are made by public transport have much lower per capita greenhouse emissions than Australian cities," Mr White said.

The major parties have a short-sighted belief that building more roads and tunnels will reduce traffic congestion. But experience has shown that new roads generate more traffic. And more cars mean higher carbon emission levels and accelerated global warming.

The transport groups say that Federal Governments cannot avoid responsibility for funding public and rail freight transport funding by claiming that public and rail freight transport is a State responsibility. As global warming is a national issue that requires a national solution, then Federal funding policy should require the States to meet strict performance, energy and environmental criteria.

New sustainable transport initiatives are required now. Low cost solutions like dedicated bike and bus lanes can be created immediately. New rolling stock, off-road bikeways and freight and passenger rail lines could be constructed and operating successfully within 5 years if balanced Federal transport funding is made available now.

Australia is the only developed country that does not provide direct federal funding of urban public transport, despite a recent survey revealing that 83 per cent of voters support federal funding being introduced.

If Australia is to avoid runaway climate change successfully, high quality public and rail freight transport must be a key part of the solution. We strongly urge the major parties to commit to funding rail freight and public transport at a national level as a matter of urgency.

Media contacts: David White 0403 871 082

Media 6 Nov

SmartCard fare structure not very smart

The Transport Minister must revise and improve the proposed fare structure for the SmartCards if he wants regular and occasional public transport users to use them.

Under the proposed fare structure, the first 6 trips each week will be charged at full price, with a 50 percent discount to apply to all other trips made within a week. Commuters who now purchase weekly paper tickets, and who make regular trips more than 10 times a week, will be financially disadvantaged if they convert to the new Smartcard system.

Some very frequent users changing from a weekly paper ticket would see their fares more than double.

Occasional bus and train commuters who now buy and use Ten-trip Savers will be similarly disadvantaged.

This is not the way to encourage public transport users to sign on to the SmartCard
system. Translink must offer financial incentives to encourage commuters to use PT services more regularly.

The proposed fare structure will discourage many commuters who for convenience and cost buy weekly tickets, by imposing higher charges on them if they buy a SmartCard.

How dumb is that?

The Minister says that paper tickets will continue to be available. CAST notes however that Translink expects that SmartCards will ultimately replace all paper tickets – apparently without providing comparable fares.

Holders of paper tickets avoid having to remember to swipe their SmartCards or face a penalty.

Translink must offer occasional users a Smartcard version with a similar discount to the Ten-trip Saver, with a six-month validity period.

There must be a weekly cap placed on SmartCard fares, so that the 11th and subsequent trips are free of charge.

Translink must devise and introduce innovative incentives to attract more people to use
public transport and to use it regularly.

If the Minister wants more people to use public transport, he must instruct Translink to modify the SmartCard fare structure to make it attractive to existing commuters, and to all those potential passengers who would leave their cars at home if public transport services and fares were an attractive alternative.

Contact David White 0403 871 082