Robert Cote
2005-06-04 16:41:09 UTC
Maybe they really need a baseball stadium to feel better about
themselves. I guess "sustainable" can mean anything anyone looking for
a handout wants it to mean.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/World-city-demands-a-transport-system
-that-befits-its-status/2005/05/31/1117305622731.html?oneclick=true#
World city demands a transport system that befits its status
June 1, 2005
A sustainable long-term plan is the only way forward, writes Garry
Glazebrook.
Sydney's public transport is in crisis. CityRail's on-time running
plunged to 49 per cent in early 2004, and patronage is down by 4 per
cent since 2001. Trains are 25 per cent slower than in Perth, and will
be even slower with the new September timetable. Westbus went into
liquidation earlier this year and bus patronage in the outer suburbs
has fallen for most of the past decade - 7400 State Transit buses crowd
the city streets each day, causing congestion, delays and loss of
amenity.
Overseas, public transport patronage is expanding in most cities and
its mode share is increasing in many. One hundred cities worldwide have
built new or expanded light rail systems since 1994, and several have
installed guided bus systems or busways. The Mass Transit Railway in
Hong Kong achieves 99.9 per cent on-time running and Shanghai has
installed the world's first Magnetic Levitation system which has a top
speed of 430kmh. Brisbane introduced integrated fares last year and had
a 10 per cent jump in patronage, Perth's rail system has tripled its
passengers in the past decade and is still expanding while Adelaide has
modernised its Glenelg tram line and is extending it across the city.
As Australia's world city, Sydney deserves world-class public
transport, with:
? Significantly improved quality;
? Extensions to new areas and increased capacity;
? The most appropriate modes for particular tasks;
? Smart-card ticketing,
real-time information and high quality interchanges;
? A secure, long-term fund base.
A start has been made, with new trains and buses announced in the
budget and the Clearways program to "free up" the clogged rail system.
The NW transitway and the Epping to Chatswood rail line are under
construction. New interchanges at Parramatta and Chatswood will improve
the connectivity of the system. But lack of a guaranteed funding system
prevents long-term planning. Changes to developer contributions
legislation recently introduced into Parliament can help remedy this,
provided the contributions are reasonable and the funds are set aside
into "sustainable transport funds", backed by maintained budget support
at current (real per capita) levels. For example, a contribution of
$25,000 per new dwelling across the region would raise about $600
million annually. Half should be allocated to a regional fund for an
extended rail system, integrated ticketing, information initiatives and
trialling new systems. The remaining 50 per cent could be divided among
perhaps five regional funds to support local initiatives such as
busways, light rail and cycleways. These funds would be controlled by
regional bodies with representation from Local Government Authorities,
allowing greater integration of land use and transport planning. This
way, long-term plans could put in place a transport system suitable for
Australia's world city. The key to it would be the rail system, which
handles over two-thirds of the 7.6 billion passenger-kilometres on
public transport, provides region-wide accessibility, and enables the
CBD, Parramatta, Chatswood, Hurstville and other centres to exist. A
new vision for Sydney's rail system is needed to match the Bradfield
legacy. This should include extensions to the north-west, south-west
and the Warringah peninsula; higher-speed services to outer suburbs and
more services in the inner suburbs, a new line from Chatswood to
Central to ease congestion, and a simplified and accelerated timetable.
This plan will allow up to 50 per cent more patronage. Coupled with
efficiency improvements and premium fares for premium services, cost
recovery should rise to 50 per cent from the current 27 per cent,
overcoming Treasury's main objection to rail-based transport.
Garry Glazebrook is a transport, urban consultant.
themselves. I guess "sustainable" can mean anything anyone looking for
a handout wants it to mean.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/World-city-demands-a-transport-system
-that-befits-its-status/2005/05/31/1117305622731.html?oneclick=true#
World city demands a transport system that befits its status
June 1, 2005
A sustainable long-term plan is the only way forward, writes Garry
Glazebrook.
Sydney's public transport is in crisis. CityRail's on-time running
plunged to 49 per cent in early 2004, and patronage is down by 4 per
cent since 2001. Trains are 25 per cent slower than in Perth, and will
be even slower with the new September timetable. Westbus went into
liquidation earlier this year and bus patronage in the outer suburbs
has fallen for most of the past decade - 7400 State Transit buses crowd
the city streets each day, causing congestion, delays and loss of
amenity.
Overseas, public transport patronage is expanding in most cities and
its mode share is increasing in many. One hundred cities worldwide have
built new or expanded light rail systems since 1994, and several have
installed guided bus systems or busways. The Mass Transit Railway in
Hong Kong achieves 99.9 per cent on-time running and Shanghai has
installed the world's first Magnetic Levitation system which has a top
speed of 430kmh. Brisbane introduced integrated fares last year and had
a 10 per cent jump in patronage, Perth's rail system has tripled its
passengers in the past decade and is still expanding while Adelaide has
modernised its Glenelg tram line and is extending it across the city.
As Australia's world city, Sydney deserves world-class public
transport, with:
? Significantly improved quality;
? Extensions to new areas and increased capacity;
? The most appropriate modes for particular tasks;
? Smart-card ticketing,
real-time information and high quality interchanges;
? A secure, long-term fund base.
A start has been made, with new trains and buses announced in the
budget and the Clearways program to "free up" the clogged rail system.
The NW transitway and the Epping to Chatswood rail line are under
construction. New interchanges at Parramatta and Chatswood will improve
the connectivity of the system. But lack of a guaranteed funding system
prevents long-term planning. Changes to developer contributions
legislation recently introduced into Parliament can help remedy this,
provided the contributions are reasonable and the funds are set aside
into "sustainable transport funds", backed by maintained budget support
at current (real per capita) levels. For example, a contribution of
$25,000 per new dwelling across the region would raise about $600
million annually. Half should be allocated to a regional fund for an
extended rail system, integrated ticketing, information initiatives and
trialling new systems. The remaining 50 per cent could be divided among
perhaps five regional funds to support local initiatives such as
busways, light rail and cycleways. These funds would be controlled by
regional bodies with representation from Local Government Authorities,
allowing greater integration of land use and transport planning. This
way, long-term plans could put in place a transport system suitable for
Australia's world city. The key to it would be the rail system, which
handles over two-thirds of the 7.6 billion passenger-kilometres on
public transport, provides region-wide accessibility, and enables the
CBD, Parramatta, Chatswood, Hurstville and other centres to exist. A
new vision for Sydney's rail system is needed to match the Bradfield
legacy. This should include extensions to the north-west, south-west
and the Warringah peninsula; higher-speed services to outer suburbs and
more services in the inner suburbs, a new line from Chatswood to
Central to ease congestion, and a simplified and accelerated timetable.
This plan will allow up to 50 per cent more patronage. Coupled with
efficiency improvements and premium fares for premium services, cost
recovery should rise to 50 per cent from the current 27 per cent,
overcoming Treasury's main objection to rail-based transport.
Garry Glazebrook is a transport, urban consultant.