Public transport group joins election fray

THE Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) recently launched Connecting Ballarat, an ambitious policy document calling for dramatic improvements to Ballarat’s bus network.

According to PTUA Ballarat’s bus system has major problems with indirect, inefficient routes through the city resulting in an inefficient use of taxpayer resources.

The key proposal of their policy is to link bus routes on opposite sides of Ballarat into longer crosstown trips creating faster journeys for passengers and more efficient use of the road grid.

Under the new policy an extended bus system would connect with commuter trains in the early mornings and late evenings.

PTUA Ballarat Branch Convener Ben Lever said this was in many ways an ambitious proposal.

“We know the existing network has a lot of inefficiencies, both in the twisty paths it takes and the excessively-padded timetables,” said Mr Lever.

“Not only are these inefficiencies frustrating for users, they take up a lot of resources that would be better spent on improving the service – that’s what we’re proposing here.”

The PTUA is calling on all political parties to invest heavily in the Ballarat bus infrastructure.

Mr Lever said low-density outer suburbs of Melbourne have highfrequency SmartBuses running through
them, connecting key destinations such as shopping centres and universities with railway stations.

He said Ballarat deserves the same. “Even the standard non-SmartBus routes run till at least 9pm in most suburbs of Melbourne, while Ballarat’s buses currently shut down around 7pm – it’s just not good enough.”

The PTUA said when governments invest in good public transport people will use it.

“If we want to reduce pressure on parking and help fight climate change, we need to get people out of their cars and onto public transport,” said Mr Lever.

“To do that we need to see serious investment in a high-quality service.”

The Public Transport Users Association is a non-politically aligned, not-for-profit, lobby group that’s run by volunteers.

Established in 1976 as the Train Travellers Association, the PTUA has branches in Ballarat and Geelong as well as Melbourne.

The group’s main goal is a public transport system that allows people to go where they want, when they want, in a timely fashion.