Author: PTUA
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Australia must ‘move on’ from freeway fantasy, not High Speed Rail
In response to the Grattan Institute’s calls for Australia to ‘move on’ from High Speed Rail, the Public Transport Users Association notes the limitations of their analysis, and calls for urban megaroads projects to receive the same level of scrutiny. Evidence has shown again and again that urban motorways induce more traffic, rather than “busting”…
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Transport for Everyone: Post COVID-19 Recovery – New vision for buses
(Media release from Transport For Everyone) Key transport professionals have jointly written to the Victorian Premier urging the Government’s Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce to focus on upgrading bus services and active transport through a 5-point plan to improve mobility for Melbourne and build jobs as part of recovery from COVID-19. The 5-point plan seeks a…
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Membership offer – Join PTUA for a year for the cost of a week of Myki
Swapped your Myki for video meetings? For the same cost as a week of Myki, you can join the PTUA for a year! Support the campaign for better public transport for just $45. Click here to join now PTUA regular annual membership is discounted to $45 for a year – the same as a weekly…
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Infrastructure Victoria misses the bus on public transport pricing
A report on transport pricing by Infrastructure Victoria contains some potentially valuable suggestions on pricing of roads and parking, but is breathtakingly naive in its approach to public transport fares. As part of a comprehensive suite of measures to ‘rationalise’ the pricing of transport in Victoria, the IV report proposes scrapping the Myki zone system…
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Myki Passes now able to be paused
Following our approach to the State Government, PTV have advised us today that they can now pause your Myki Pass. By pausing a Myki Pass, any remaining travel days will be ready for use when you are ready to get back onto public transport. This applies to both Commuter Club (through PTUA or other organisations)…
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COVID-19
Please note that due to COVID-19 the PTUA is not running member meetings for the moment. There may also be a delay in processing paper membership forms and other correspondence, as our volunteers may not be attending the office during this period. Members wishing to renew are encouraged to do so online. Commuter Club /…
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Planning confusion sells Melbourne’s west, air travellers short
Statement by the Public Transport Users Association The Public Transport Users Association is concerned at recent commentary on new rail developments in Melbourne’s west, specifically the promised rail link to Melbourne Airport, and the implied pressure to rush into major decisions in the absence of a comprehensive plan for public transport development. At a high…
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PTUA opposed to expansion of the Free Tram Zone
PTUA does not support the Free Tram Zone, due to the problems it causes, including crowding, and the lack of benefits it provides to paying public transport users. We also do not support the Zone being extended. Data indicates the Free Tram Zone has increased tram usage at the expense of “active” modes (walking and…
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PTUA welcomes Overland reprieve, calls for long-term investment
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the announcement that the Victorian government will contribute funding to keep the iconic Overland train running for another three months. When the South Australian government withdrew its contribution to subsidising this vital passenger link at the end of 2018, the Victorian government stepped up to fund the…
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Enough is enough: Time for Tram Cams to stop dangerous motorists
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for tram cams, and stronger enforcement of road rules to improve tram passenger safety. Australian road rules state that motorists are required to stop when trams stop, to allow passengers to board and alight safely.[1] “This is a rule often broken, with potentially fatal results”, said PTUA…
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Melbourne transport still shaped by 50 year old plan – time for a rethink
December 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan [1]: a radical exercise that sought to reshape Melbourne at vast expense, from a ‘garden city’ with well-used public transport, to a car-dominated sprawling ‘doughnut city’ based on a Los Angeles-style grid of freeways. PTUA spokesperson Daniel Bowen said that while other transport…
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PTUA slams North East Link rubber stamp decision
The Public Transport Users Association has added its voice in solidarity with planning professionals, local councils, environment groups, Yarra Valley businesses and residents, deploring the decision by Planning Minister Richard Wynne to rubber-stamp the North East Link Environment Effects Statement. The Minister’s decision overrides the conclusions of the Inquiry and Assessment Committee after half a…