V/Line action plan needed re today's performance results
V/Line's latest monthly results released today show need for a fully funded improvement plan with money allocated in next month's State Budget.
"There's no sustained improvement in V/Line's performance. On some lines, things are getting worse," said Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber MLC
"V/line is a serious commuter service that many depend on. And if they can't rely on it, they'll give it up and drive instead. It's not just for people visiting the grand kids and the odd country holiday."
V/Line performance report shows need for Budget funds
Update: March 2013 results released on 15 April - click here for Greg's reaction
The latest V/Line performance report shows it needs money in next month's State Budget to improve reliability and on-time running of V/Line services, says Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber.
"On-time running is not getting better, if anything it's getting worse. Let's see Terry Mulder stop hiding behind V/Line and explain what he will do to improve train punctuality," said Greg Barber MLC
Hartland and Premier (cardboard cut-out) train station blitz begins
In a first for any Victorian MP Colleen Hartland will visit every train station in her Western Suburbs electorate, 43 train stations in 60 days, and she’s taking the Premier with her; a cardboard cut-out that is.
“I’ve invited the Premier to join me to see first hand why investing in public transport should be his top priority. I’m taking a card-board cut out because he’s not coming” said Colleen Hartland.
"As someone who regularly uses public transport in the West, I can tell you that both Coalition election promises to ‘fix public transport’ and ‘not neglect the West’ are fast turning into lies.”
Colleen Hartland will join Yarraville West Primary for Ride2School Day 2013
Colleen Hartland will join Yarraville West Primary School to celebrate Ride2School Day 2013.
"Kids say they’d rather ride or walk to school than be stuck in a car. They say it's fun and they get to travel with their friends. What they don't realise though is that this daily exercise is good for their health," said Colleen Hartland.
"It also means they arrive at school with higher concentration levels and a greater ability to take in classroom information; providing for improved learning."
"In the 1970s more than 80 per cent of children walked or rode to school but that number has fallen to only 20 per cent today. This figure is appalling and needs to be improved."
"7,000 trucks travel within 200 metres of Yarraville West Primary School every single day. We need to make it safe so that kids can ride to school every day, not just on Ride2School day."
East-West tunnel blocks overdue rail extensions
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) -- I move:
That this house requires the Leader of the Government to table in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, 16 April 2013, a copy of
(1) all documents relating to the 'Route alignments peer reviewed and short-listed' and 'Communications and engagement strategy finalised' referred to on page 3 of 'East west link reform and investment framework -- stages 1 to 6' dated August 2012, which formed part of the east-west link submission to Infrastructure Australia;
(2) the agenda, minutes, any attachments to the minutes and any presentations or materials tabled in relation to each meeting of the Department of Transport's east-west steering committee to date;
(3) all documents (including invitees list, agenda, minutes where they exist and the Microsoft PowerPoint presentation used) relating to a briefing, held on 17 July 2012 at the Treasury building, on the development of a business case for the east-west link; and
(4) all minutes and other documentation of meetings held with over 40 entities by the Minister for Roads and/or Department of Transport representatives relating to the proposed east-west tunnel infrastructure project, which are referenced in the media release 'East-west link is declared under major transport projects act'.
I am seeking a number of documents, all of which we know exist, which might provide a bit more information than we have so far had about the government's no. 1 infrastructure priority, the east-west road tunnel from Collingwood to Kensington and on, apparently, to Sunshine.
33 per cent increase in cyclists, but still no fix for Shepherd’s Bridge
Greens MP Colleen Hartland renews her call to fix Shepherd’s Bridge as initial figures released from the Super Tuesday Bicycle count, held on the 5 March, found a 33 per cent increase in riders along the Footscray Road bike path since last year.
“Between 7am and 9am, 1450 people cycled along the Footscray road bike path. That’s a 33% increase since last year, and shows the growing need for bike infrastructure investment.”
Shepherd’s Bridge crosses the Maribyrnong River at the start of Footscray Road. The bike lanes on it are narrow; have street light poles in the middle of them; the surface is poor quality; and the bridge, being subject to strong gusts of wind, requires protective barriers to stop cyclists being blown onto the truck laden road.
Adjournment: public transport timetable
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) -- My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport, Terry Mulder. I was recently contacted by a constituent with a complaint about the operation of bus services under contract with the Department of Transport by Melbourne Bus Link, particularly bus routes 216, 219 and 220. The complaint concerned a bus service operated by Melbourne Bus Link on Saturday, 26 January 2013, that did not adhere to the time for that service that was advertised on the timetable in the bus shelter. In short, although my constituent arrived prior to the scheduled time he nevertheless missed his bus. Subsequently he checked the timetable on the Public Transport Victoria website, which showed the 'normal' timetable as displayed at the bus stop and failed to indicate any special holiday arrangements for the day.
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Network Revenue Protection Plan basis for fare evasion management
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) -- I move:
That this house requires the Leader of the Government to table in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, 19 March 2013, a copy of the Department of Transport's Network Revenue Protection Plan for the 2012-13 financial year.
This is a motion requesting the tabling in the house of a document known as the Network Revenue Protection Plan for the current financial year. Earlier versions of this document have been tabled in the house before with no dissent and seemingly little difficulty. This is the document in which the government and the public transport operators lay down their plans for action on fare evasion, and it contains some data on past performance. Of course that very question of fare evasion and ticketing and so forth is a matter of very live debate.
Government accepts 20,000 excuses re transport tickets
New figures obtained in Parliament by Victorian Greens Leader Greg Barber show the 'no excuses' public transport advertisements are misleading, since over twenty thousand people who were booked in 2011-12 on a ticketing issue had their notices withdrawn by the Department, or penalties waived by a court.
"Terry Mulder's whole 'get tough, no excuses' line on fare evasion is hollow. Ticket inspectors sometimes get it wrong. Special circumstances sometimes apply and the courts form their own view. That's why 11.5% of all tickets aren't enforced - a pretty poor hit rate by any standards."
"There were twenty thousand valid excuses, all while the 'no excuses' advertising campaign was screaming along."
"This is consistent with previous years. Ticket inspectors are not getting any more reliable."
Inquiry canned - truck truth lost in haze of diesel smoke
An attempt by The Greens to reveal the impacts and cost of a projected doubling of truck numbers on Melbourne’s streets has been shut down by the Baillieu government.
“The Baillieu government has refused an Inquiry which would reveal the true impacts and costs of the projected doubling of trucks on Melbourne’s streets. What are they afraid will be uncovered?" said Greens MP for the Western Suburbs Colleen Hartland.
"This act by the government shows that trucking giants and port industry profits are dictating policy, to the exclusion of community health and easing the pain of traffic congestion."
