Transport

Carlo Carli MP has made a submission for the local Bus Service Review.  In his submission he argues for:

• upgrade of local bus services, including the introduction of Sunday services
• better information for bus users
• more bus shelters, and to build a Coburg Transport Interchange next to the train station (not hundreds of metres away on Bell Street)
• and no diversion of the 504 to service Parkville Gardens

A copy of the submission is available for download.

Part of $2 Million Brumby Government Funding to Improve Sustainable Transport

Jane Garrett, Labor candidate for Brunswick, has welcomed news of an $160,000 Brumby Labor Government initiative to fund a new alternative north south bike route through Brunswick and Brunswick East linking Carlton North and Coburg.

Moreland City Council has received $160,000 as part of nearly $2 million given to councils in Melbourne and regional Victoria to improve local access and overcome barriers to walking, cycling and public transport.

The $226,000 Canning Street Extension Project will be delivered thanks to joint funding from the Brumby Government’s fourth round of TravelSmart and Local Area Access Program grants and Moreland City Council.

“I am delighted to announce funding for this project, which will improve sustainable transport options in our community and encourage people to leave their cars at home for short trips,” Ms Garrett said.

The new agreement between the operators fo Yarra Trams, KDR, and the State Government includes:

• Yarra Trams to continue to be the operating name of Melbourne’s Tram Service
  
• 50 new large low floor trams on the way
  
• 33 Z Class Trams to be renovated and updated
  
• Creation of the KDR Customer Service and Safety Training Academy
  
• Improved punctuality targets – up from 78 to 82 percent
  

Final patronage figures for the 2008/09 year were:

• Train -213.9 million (up 6.3 per cent); 


• Tram -178.1 million (up 12.5 per cent); 


• Bus - 99.5 million (up 9 per cent); and 


• Total - 491.5 million (up 9 per cent).

The State Government has announced a series of initiatives on Sydney Road.  These include:

• a 40km/h speed limit
  
• Removing the counter peak clearway in Coburg
  
• Linemarking parking bays
  
• Installing directional parking signs (to offstreet parking)
  
• Linemarking for bicycles
  
• Expanded clearway hours

For more details consult Keeping Melbourne Moving

Vichealth has introduced a new website, VictoriaWalks.

Encouraging walking is a great way to change your neighbourhood for the better. When you walk, you meet your neighbours, get healthy, save money and save the planet. We’ve found the best, most practical tools to help promote walking so take a stroll around the site and get inspired.  The website has an extensive array of resources and tools to assist people to work together to make their neighbourhoods better for walking (both socially and physically). 

Melbourne’s public transport network has shown its support for World Environment Day today with the launch of Yarra Trams’ latest ‘greendepot’ at Brunswick.

Greendepots have already implemented at three other depots including East Preston, Malvern and Glenhuntly.

Incorporating water and energy saving systems, greendepots reduce environmental impacts and encourage sustainable practices

Member for Brunswick, Carlo Carli MP, said the existing depots save a combined 4.09 million litres of water each year, with the Brunswick Depot expected to harvest an additional 2.5 million litres of water annually.

- Carlo Carli speaks to Parliament about the State Budget
- Global financial crisis is impacting on Victorian jobs
- Budget protects jobs and builds infrastructure
- It is not a situation of our making, but it is one we have to confront to protect jobs and to protect families in Victoria.

 On May 7 Carlo Carli spoke to state Parliament about the 2009-2010 budget, as a part of the debate on the Appropriations Bill 2009.

- Budget to secure 35,000 jobs in the next 12 months
- Schools, public transport, health big winners
- A traditional Labor budget, protecting jobs while investing for the future

Investing in infrastructure to secure jobs, stimulate the economy, and support Victorian families from the impact of the Global Financial Crisis are the hallmarks of the Brumby Labor Government’s 2009 State Budget.

Member for Brunswick, Carlo Carli MP today welcomed the Brumby Labor Government’s 2009 State Budget and its record $11.5 billion infrastructure investment that will secure up to 35,000 jobs in the coming 12 months.

- $5 million in State Budget for a Bike Hire scheme for inner Melbourne
- 50 bicycle stations with up to 600 bikes
- To be operational in 2010

Tenders will be called this month to establish a public bike hire scheme in Melbourne with the 2009 State Budget to commit $5 million, the Brumby Government announced today.

The new system would help create a greener transport network for the city.

More information at www.transport.vic.gov.au

A fantastic initiative from Moreland Council....

Moreland City Council, Commuter Cycles and Lygon Cycles want to see more cyclists on the road this winter - and are working together to make it happen with a "Lights On Ride On" promotion campaign.

The end of Daylight Savings means its getting dark earlier. Its time to get visible - and that means looking at your lights, replacing the batteries and replacing lights that have seen better days. We want you to get new lights so you can enjoy riding all year round.

Resolving conflicts between different uses of our roads - walking, cycling, public transport, private transport - is a vexed issue for an city, especially Melbourne.  The government is trying to take some small steps to resolve some of these tensions, as Carlo dscusses below.

Mr CARLI (Brunswick) -- It is a great pleasure to rise in support of the Transport Legislation Miscellaneous Amendments Bill. It is something of an omnibus bill in that there are a number of changes to a number of pieces of legislation that deal with transport, port services and the Marine Act. The bill is transport related, but there are a number of small but significant proposed changes to other legislation. I particularly want to focus on the changes to the Road Management Act in terms of the priority and the designation of the priority of trams, buses, bicycles, pedestrians and freight traffic on roads.

At the Victorian Department of Transport....

Twenty more new trains are now on order for Melbourne’s metropolitan train network. The order comes as an addition to the 18 trains already on their way, the first of which will arrive on the network later this year. The 38 new trains will provide extra capacity for more than 30,000 passengers in peak times.