Community feedback on improvement needed to Victorian regional public transport released
Regional Victoria needs more frequent bus services, and earlier and later services, to help those who rely on public transport to commute to the city each day and for weekends away.
These are the main findings of the Victorian Regional Public Transport Consultation Report released recently.
The report provides a snapshot of feedback from this year’s Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP) consultation sessions held across Victoria and summarises nearly 15,000 pieces of feedback received between June and September this year.
“This has been the biggest community consultation on public transport ever undertaken in regional Victoria and I would like to thank the thousands of people who contributed their passion and ideas,” Victorian minister for public transport Jacinta Allan says.
“The extensive feedback received will play a central role in developing Victoria’s first ever long term strategy for better regional public transport – the Regional Network Development Plan.”
Regional Transport Advisory Group co-chair Richard Elkington is pleased with the process so far and is keen to see necessary improvements made as soon as possible.
“We’ve seen a great response in our regional communities – people have come out in numbers to have their say about their public priorities and needs for the future,” he says.
“I look forward to the government’s response and seeing improved outcomes for regional public transport into the future.”
The report highlights how much people in regional Victoria rely on public transport and clearly shows they need more frequent bus and train services, better use of assets like school buses, services that start earlier and finish later and more modern, comfortable and accessible buses and trains.