From the September PTUA Newsletter

Legislation establishing the Public Transport Development Authority was introduced to State Parliament on 14 September, and is expected to be debated this week.

On this vitally important policy initiative the government is proceeding broadly in the right direction. The structure and powers of the PTDA in this legislation largely mirror those of Vicroads. The PTDA will have its own Board, including one position reserved for a community representative.

That said, we are obviously keen that the PTDA’s enabling legislation should be as good as it can be, and viewed in this light there are some important shortcomings.
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The most significant policy commitment of the incoming Baillieu Government is the creation of a Public Transport Development Authority for Victoria. Getting this one right will make all the difference between Victoria having some of the best public transport in the world, and a continuation of the current mediocre, politically poisonous setup.

The good news is that Transport Minister Terry Mulder now has a wealth of interstate and overseas experience to draw on when constituting and recruiting the government’s PTDA. Zurich, Vancouver, London, Perth and to some extent Brisbane all provide good examples of what to do. While they embody a number of different specific organisational structures and relationships, they share common features that make them successful. For the benefit of PTUA members, we list these briefly here.
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From PTUA’s December 2009 newsletter.

Despite having no Federal funds for its `Peninsula Link’, the State Government has announced its intention to proceed regardless, driving a motorway through precious native wildlife habitat and historic homesteads, in order to further entrench car dependence in south-east Melbourne and for visitors to the Peninsula.
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UPDATE: As of 2012, some of the information below is outdated.
This page of Myki Questions and Answers has been updated, and is a good starting point to finding out how Myki will work

This article is from our September 2009 member newsletter. Join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters.

The Myki juggernaut rolls on, and the government are saying it will be switched on in Melbourne by the end of the year.

While the PTUA has consistently said the huge amount of money involved would have been better spent on staff, services, tram/train extensions and extra vehicles, we now face the likely prospect that the system will be fully implemented in the near future.

So, what does this mean for passengers? There will be three ways of using the Myki system. Read the rest of this article »

It’s not too long ago that the only visible infrastructure project underway on Melbourne’s rail system was the Craigieburn electrification. This is no longer the case. Say what you like about the government, but it is undeniable that a number projects have now been funded, right across the rail network.

But are they the right solutions? And are we getting our money’s worth?

This interactive map summarises what’s going on where, when each project will be finished, and how much it’ll cost. Move your mouse over each project to see the details. (Requires Flash)
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Please join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters.

July 2009 edition articles:

• Connex and Yarra Trams cancelled — but will it make a difference?
• Coming events
• Train Services Inquiry heats up
• CBD tram changes expose fleet shortage
• Every ten minutes to… Werribee
• Action stations!
• The truth behind South Morang revealed — expanded version of this article here
• PTUA welcomes Victoria Walks initiative
• Geelong branch: focus on bus route reform
• Outer east: Bus lanes coming

Members can read this edition online.

Please join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters.

May 2009 edition articles:

• Funded: South Morang rail, Sunbury electrification, Tarneit/Regional link – but at what cost?
• Member meeting: Monday 15th June (please note date in paper newsletter is wrong)
• Watching over the fleet
• Parliamentary Select Committee on Train Services
• Senate inquiry probes Federal funding
• South Morang not far enough
• Connex trials modified train
• Flags for Footscray
• Northeast standard gauge project welcomed
• Geelong: buses to be upgraded
• Multi-million dollar Myki rolls on
• Connecting to the Future: Our transport alternative

Members can read this edition online.

Please join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters.

December 2008 edition articles:

• Brumby’s grand plan
• PTUA Annual General Meeting report
• Metcard changes rolled back
• Fare rises — Melbourne’s fares still the most expensive
• Frank Crean 1916-2008
• How much can a rail line cost?

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Please join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters.

September 2008 edition articles:

• Periodicals undermined by Myki
• PTUA Annual General Meeting: Thursday October 30th
• Make these local elections count
• RIP Ken McIntyre

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Please join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters.

July 2008 edition articles:

• PTUA calls for services ‘Every 10 minutes to everywhere’
• PTUA members provide customer service suggestions
• Response to Eddington: Please try again, sir
• Victorian Budget – Backtracking again
• Eastlink’s open – now the road lobby wants the “missing link”

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