better buses - what would you like to see?

For the majority of residents in the eastern suburbs buses are the only form of public transport.
With limited access to fixed rail services, buses provide a critical connection for people and allow access to the places they want to go for work, school or entertainment.

Unfortunately the bus network has not received the funding needed to allow the increased services needed by people in the east.

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

With a State election set for November this year, the ETC is concerned that neither the Napthine Government or the Opposition have a plan to improve bus services.

That’s why we are campaigning for Better Buses and we need your help.

Fill in this short Better Buses survey and tell us about the improvements you would like to see.

video challenge - tell us why commuters count

Commuters and other users of our trams, trains and buses have a pretty good idea of what is needed to improve the system. The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) wants to make sure your voices and ideas are heard so we are running a video challenge.

The ETC are inviting people to post a video, up to 2 minutes, on the Commuters Count facebook page in order to go into the running to win a year’s worth of public transport.

The ETC wants to know, with some creativity, about your public transport experiences and how they could be improved. Maybe you want a new train line or your day may be made better if the bus met the train. Whatever it is, we want to know.

Need some inspiration, check out this entry from Yarra Ranges Council (no we're not allowed to win - but great effort team YR!)

The competition is open until 24 September and you can vote for your favourite video anytime until the end of September.

To see example entries and all the details visit our facebook page.

For terms and conditions, visit the ETC website.

eastern councils lobby for federal transport spending

Seven eastern Melbourne Councils have voted to put the pressure on Federal candidate to support public transport spending in the lead up to the September 7 election.

Greater Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Monash, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Councils have all either endorsed motions at their meetings or have publicly proclaimed the need for the Federal Government to commit to spending on major metropolitan public transport projects, including urban rail.

The councils, all members of the Eastern Transport Coalition, are asking for an ongoing commitment of funding at a federal level and raising their concerns about Liberal leader Tony Abbot’s statement in April that the commonwealth government had "no history of funding urban rail”.

ETC chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said inadequate public transport was a critical issue for residents in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs who have waited decades for projects like rail to Rowville and Doncaster.

“The time has come for the community to vote and candidates in this federal election need to make their position on public transport funding clear,” Cr Dunn said.

 “The ETC supported the Victorian Government’s plan for expanding and improving the rail network but we want it delivered quicker than the 15 years stated in the PTV Network Development plan.

“Residents in the eastern suburbs can’t wait until 2028 for the missing links in Melbourne’s public transport infrastructure to be delivered.”

Cr Dunn said while councils would be making their views known to local candidate, residents could also make their voices heard by using the hash tag #commuterscount on Twitter and liking the ETC’s Commuters County Facebook page.

“We want to see photos and comments so the candidates can see the problems first hand,” Cr Dunn said.

etc launches commuters count

 

ONE million residents living in the eastern suburbs can’t wait until 2028 for the missing links in Melbourne’s public transport infrastructure to be delivered and as the election draws nearer, the Eastern Transport Coalition is reminding the government that Commuters Count.

Commuters Count is a campaign being run by the ETC to encourage the community - those who use public transport and those who would like to but currently don’t have a viable option – to make their voices heard.

ETC chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said the ETC supported the Victorian Government’s plan for expanding and improving the rail network but wanted it delivered quicker than the 15 years stated in the PTV Network Development plan.

“The million residents of the eastern suburbs can’t wait till 2028 for the generational improvements needed for rail. By that time it will be a generation since they were promised and that’s too long,” Cr Dunn said.

“The current debate of road versus rail ignores the real need of commuters and businesses alike – the eastern suburbs of Melbourne need better transport infrastructure and sooner than 15 years.

“The ETC needs both the state and federal government to find and commit to more funding to accelerate the delivery of public transport infrastructure and we are calling on local candidates in the Federal election to show their support for the funding of urban rail by the Federal Government.

“In the lead up the launch on 20 August we are asking commuters to make their views known by tweeting about how their trip could be better using the hash tag #commuterscount and liking our Facebook page.

“We want to see photos and comments so the candidates can see the problems first hand.”

The ETC has written to candidates in the east are asking for:

1. Federal Government funding for urban rail;
2. The State Government to allocate funding to the Melbourne Metro and Stage 3 projects  (Rail to Rowville and Doncaster); and
3. The State Government to accelerate the delivery of the Melbourne Metro and Stage 3 projects.

The ETC is made up of seven eastern suburban councils, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges, and represents the public transport needs of more than one million residents.

samantha in the media

Tribunal's planning powers angers councils
ABC 7:30
by Ashlynne McGhee
2 Aug 2013

Whitehorse Council calls on State Government to upgrade Box Hill's public transport interchange
Whitehorse Leader
by Melanie Gardiner
2 Aug 2013

samantha in the press

Nadrasca says disabled people discriminated against in upgrade plans for Mitcham station
by Tim Michell
Leader Newspapers
25 Jul 2013

Big splash when revamped pool opens
Leader Newspapers
24 Jul 2013