etc wants to know if you want better buses

PRESS RELEASE

If you want Better Buses tell us how
Monday, 11 August 2014

Bus commuters in the east are invited to take part in a new bus survey to let all political parties know about the deficiencies in the network prior to the State Election.

 

ETC Chairperson, Cr Peter Lockwood said buses were the most critical part of the public transport network for the majority of residents in the eastern suburbs.

 

“In parts of the eastern suburbs where little or no other public transport options exist, buses connect people with the places they want to go for work, school or entertainment,” Cr Lockwood said.

Despite proposed new rail lines in the east being included in Plan Melbourne they remain unfunded and therefore uncommitted.

To make matters worse there has been no increase in local bus services to cater for the growing need for public transport fuelled by strong population growth.
 

“That’s why the ETC is campaigning for Better Buses and we are asking residents to tell us about their commuting experience and the improvements they would like to see,” Cr Lockwood said.

“Even the Auditor General has noted that the network suffers from a lack of coordination, poor span of hours, poor reliability and insufficient days of operation.

 

“It is a major concern to the ETC that neither the Napthine Government or the Opposition have a plan to improve bus services.”

 

The ETC is made up of seven eastern suburban councils, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Monash, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Councils and advocates for improved public transport in our region.

The Better Buses survey can be found on the ETC website: www.etc.org.au

• The scheduled service distance for buses in 2010-11 was 110.7m kilometres and the target for this financial year is 110.8m kilometres.
• The most recent budget provided an extra $11.8m for new train and bus services this year and an average of $27m per year for the next four. Unfortunately for eastern suburbs residents, that’s just for new buses in Wyndham.