Public transport improvement roadshow sees thousands attend in regional Victoria
Victoria’s first ever long-term strategy for better regional public transport is getting closer, and the Victorian Government will create a draft plan for improvement now submissions have closed.
More than 1,400 people have attended nearly 40 workshops across the state to have their say on the future of public transport in regional Victoria over the last few months.
Although only 100 full submissions were received, the Victorian Government received more than 1,700 surveys and 670 comments through online discussion forums and residents openly shared their views on how train and bus services can be improved during the workshops.
“The response from regional Victoria has been amazing, with thousands of people providing feedback through community workshops, surveys and online,” Victorian minister for public transport Jacinta Allan says.
The Regional Transport Advisory Group (RTAG), which has driven community consultation during the development of the Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP), met at the most recent of these workshops in Maryborough last week.
Now everyone has had their say, the Victorian Government will start sifting through submissions to gauge public opinion and use this to inform a draft plan.
“Now that the formal consultation period is over, community input received will be analysed and integrated into the plan, which will set out priorities for improvements to regional train, bus and coach services over the next 20 to 30 years,” Allan says.
“I look forward to working with transport planners and representatives on the Regional Transport Advisory Group to translate this local knowledge into concrete improvements to public transport services across regional Victoria.”
The Bus Association of Victoria (BusVic) has been working closely with the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) to deliver this community engagement program.
A report outlining initial community feedback will be released early next month and the Victorian Government is expected to release the draft RNDP by the end of next year.