Govts urged to boost public transport, not build more roads

bevans · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:31 pm

Public transport advocates say a recent CSIRO report predicting $8-a-litre petrol prices by 2018 has sent a clear message that Australia must follow Europe's lead and invest in first-class public transport systems.

The CSIRO report says soaring crude oil prices, dwindling supply and a voracious demand for petrol could continue to push the price of petrol up for the next decade.

Dr Paul Mees, a senior transport planning lecturer at RMIT University in Melbourne, believes that the prediction should send a warning to Australian governments.

"Particularly to state and federal governments that are currently proposing to spend billions of dollars on new freeways and toll ways," he said.

"It's not immediately obvious how people are going to be able to afford the fuel for cars to drive on those roads."

Dr Mees says Western Australia has the only Government that is doing a good job investing in public transport., having just doubled the size of the Perth rail network and announcing another five rail lines, including a link to the airport.

He says he believes the other states are influenced too strongly by road lobby groups and public-private partnerships.

"Because we have a new Federal Government it's possible that they won't be as locked in to the old ways as a lot of their state counterparts, who've been got at by road and privatisation lobbies for years now," he said.

"I think it's very important that the Federal Government takes the lead."

Euro-style

He has urged Australian governments to look at best practice in European cities, where significant progress has been made in getting people out of their cars.

"What the Europeans have managed to do in the last 10 or 20 years is extend those very high-quality services into suburban and even rural areas," he said.

"Even people that live in low-density environments are able to exist without cars, should they choose to.

"That's the kind of expertise that we need in this country, because that's the kind of dispersed public transport systems are going to need to serve."

And Dr Mees seems to have an unexpected ally in the Australian Road Forum, a road transport industry association.

Chief executive Ian Webb agrees that governments need to be investing more money in public transport.

"Every road minister in Australia, and we know most of them, now clearly recognise that transport is an integrated system, and the only way we're going to cure road congestion is if more of our people can be encouraged to use public transport," he said.

"It would be crazy for an organisation such as mine to say that every person should use the roads and sit there for two hours driving to work."

Based on an AM report by Samantha Donovan.

ABC News

RP2 - Project Director

"Victoria, the home of world class project blowouts and overruns" Mr. Bachelor, hang your head in Shame!

GeoffreyHansen · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:00 am

Although it's taking a long time I do think that the SEQIP plan is a good example of investment in public transport infrastructure.

If Sydney ever builds more than one metro line it will also be good.

Bring the 3900s back to Brisbane
Bring Karlsruhe Tramtrains to Australian cities
Extend the proposed Metro to Taylor Square
Extend the Gold Coast line to the Tweed

bevans · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:17 am

My own view puts queensland in a prime leadership position for public mtransport change nationally. On the home front they are investing in network and services in SEQ. Rail freight investment in other parts of the network where it makes sense.

They also have a growing investment in national container/intermodal services and some coal work. Interesting stuff.

Brian

RP2 - Project Director

"Victoria, the home of world class project blowouts and overruns" Mr. Bachelor, hang your head in Shame!

bevans · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:26 am