Public Transport
From left field - How much does it cost to issue, collect, safeguard, count, and audit transport fares? Please include all printing, ditribution, commissions, staffing and office overheads. OK. Now what if it was free? Would the transport system lose about the same amount as they lose now?
MyZone
Gladys Berejiklian when the NSW Labor Party introduced myzone ticketing system even though I'm not a regular my zone ticket holder. Could you abolish the my zone ticketing system please?
The NSW Liberals & Nationals will fix Sydney’s ferry services
Sydney’s ferry services are not just an efficient form of transport; they are an iconic part of Sydney’s history.
However, for many years the management, culture and safety record of Sydney Ferries has been an ongoing concern. Despite report after report Labor’s only response has been inaction.
Trip forecast figures in the State Government's $50.2 billion Metropolitan Transport Plan, which maps out the future of Sydney's transport network, show ferry patronage falling by 4.8 per cent by 2020.[1]
Currently 40,000 commuters a day use Sydney Ferries but this will fall to 38,000, despite the fact the city's population is predicted to grow by more than five million people.[2]
The NSW Liberals & Nationals believe we can fix Sydney’s ferries by increasing the role of the private sector in service delivery without privatising the service.
In government we will look to involve business in the leasing, maintenance and operation of the Sydney ferry fleet.
To ensure customers and taxpayers are protected we will also look to introduce strict new community obligations which will cover areas such as fare structure, routes and safety obligations within a service contract.
This model in delivering ferry services is consistent with that undertaken successfully in Brisbane.[3]
The potential for government to enhance quality and affordability of ferry services by working with the private sector has been demonstrated through the success of the privately run Manly Fast Ferry.
NSW Labor axed the JetCat services to Manly in November 2008,[4] to be replaced with a private operator to deliver the service. Since then commuters have been enjoying better customer service, more environmentally friendly vessels and significantly improved reliability.[1] NSW Government, (2010), “Metropolitan Transport Plan – Connecting the City of Cities”, Sydney, February 2010, p. 15.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Petersen, Kary & Wilkie, Caroline, (2009), “TTF Transport Position Paper – Revitalising Sydney Ferries”, Tourism & Transport Forum Australia, New South Wales, p. 3.
[4] NSW State Government, (2008), “2008-09 Mini-Budget”, New South Wales, p. A-10.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals will create an Integrated Transport Authority
The NSW Liberals & Nationals have committed to an Integrated Transport Authority. It will improve the delivery of public transport services by better co-ordinating different transport modes, and enabling more efficient delivery of major transport infrastructure projects.
The Integrated Transport Authority will be responsible for transport policy including planning, infrastructure, fares, ticketing and customer information. It will ensure that different transport modes work together, and that the interests of the travelling public are put first.
Under this structure, the operational transport agencies, such as RailCorp, State Transit Authority and Sydney Ferries, will be focused on front line service delivery.
Each frontline agency will play a lead role in their specific transport mode. These agencies will be required to focus on their core role – delivering clean, reliable, safe and efficient transport services, while the Integrated Transport Authority is responsible for planning and policy.
An Independent Board comprising a panel of experts will oversee the new Authority. The Board will be at ‘arms length’ from the day-to-day running of transport services but will play a critical role in keeping the State Government accountable on transport policy and providing expert advice.
Specifically, the new Authority will:
- - provide a central point of management for the provision of public transport services across Sydney and NSW;
- - be responsible for transport planning including the development of workable transport interchanges;
- - deliver better co-ordination between transport modes;
- - provide a central point of accountability for the planning and delivery of major transport infrastructure projects; and
- - put commuters first by providing more accessible real time information about services and ticketing.
The Federal Budget
Treasurer Wayne Swan today confirmed in a post-budget radio interview that the allocation of $91 million to NSW for planning for the West Metro is 'chicken feed', considering a total of $8.45 billion has been handed out for rail, road and ports projects around the country.
