Auditor-General report on public transport in Victoria shows services heading in right direction
The Victorian Government has welcomed the Auditor-General’s report into improving public transport services and co-ordination.
Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder says the report is a strong endorsement that under Public Transport Victoria (PTV) public transport in the state is heading in the right direction.
“Passenger satisfaction has markedly risen, demonstrating how PTV’s careful planning is being widely noticed by the community,” he says.
Since the Victorian Government was elected in late 2010, 7,136 extra bus trips have been introduced into the state.
“Adding 10,000 extra weekly public transport trips has created many more travel options and reduced the amount of time public transport users wait connecting between trains and buses,” says Mulder.
In April 2013 when Williams Landing station opened, PTV made sure that 1,221 extra weekly bus trips commenced in the fast growing City of Wyndham.
Patronage of local bus routes in the municipality has since doubled.
“Other areas such as Bacchus Marsh, Craigieburn, Pakenham and the large number of eastern suburbs served by Transdev buses are benefiting from many new weekly bus trips,” says Mulder.
He says the State Government will continue to work with PTV to further improve public transport co-ordination and the frequency of services.
“PTV has accepted the Auditor-General’s recommendations and will build upon the three major timetable changes since 2011 – which the report acknowledges have increased public transport trip frequencies.”