Concerns raised in parliament about Victorian bus services not meeting community growth have been mirrored in a BusVic budget wish list
Concerns raised in parliament about Victorian bus services not meeting community growth have been mirrored in a BusVic budget wish list.
During parliament member statements yesterday, Mill Park MP Lily D’Ambrosio said the government had failed to provide additional bus services to growing communities, and had instead cut existing services.
She says in her electorate alone the 563 and 571 services have been cancelled, and the 564 service re-routed.
“These changes, as of April 22, will make it harder for families in Epping and Mill Park to get to Mill Park Secondary College, the Stables Shopping Centre, and the Norparrin Centre for Children with Special Needs,” D’Ambrosio says.
The MP’s sentiments have been mirrored in a BusVic budget wish list released exclusively to Australasian Bus and Coach Magazine (ABC).
The list
requests that the government
provide additional bus services to meet growth in new areas, turn the radial rail network into a web of interconnected routes, increase the span and frequency of bus services, address overcrowding and late running of bus services, and clear the backlog of underserviced suburbs and regions.
BusVic Executive Director Chris Lowe says while he realises all items won’t be addressed, he hopes the government will plan for the future.
“Doing all of this is virtually impossible,” Lowe says.
“However, if the government can roll out a plan where spending in these areas is committed for future years to get the ball roiling, then that would be a sensible move.”
Lowe says he hopes the government will also have the courage to push the button on significant transport infrastructure and service projects needed to generate jobs, and execute more initiatives to increase the public transport network’s interconnectivity.
The Victorian state budget will be announced on May 1, 2012.