Public transport’s New Year revamp
Commuters can expect better scheduling of public transport services “early in the new year” because of a major overhaul in the management of the network.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon told The Advertiser the Government planned a “fundamental restructure” of public transport organisation, so buses, trams and trains operated under one umbrella.
It would be the biggest overhaul in management of the network since TransAdelaide was formed in 1994.
At present, TransAdelaide manages trains and trams while the Transport Department’s Public Transport division is in charge of routes and schedules for buses.
The changes also are expected to provide money savings through more efficient management.
“We want to restructure it so one organisation is responsible for the provision of public transport,” Mr Conlon said. “The key point is it doesn’t make any sense for there to be two separate public agencies.”
Mr Conlon said the Government “would have more to say about the restructure early in the new year.”
Tourism and Transport Forum Australia executive director Brett Gale said integrating management of all public transport had been successful interstate.
“We’ve seen that sort of model work quite well in Victoria and in New South Wales, where they moved about eight months ago to put in an integrated transport department and brought the roads department under that as well,” he said. “It’s about efficiency of planning and expenditure.”
People for Public Transport Secretary Margaret Dingle said the restructure would be positive move if it ensured an “overall vision for the public transport system”.
“Buses, trains and trams should be regarded as one whole system,” she said. “As long as it helps co-ordinate everything and gets services where they need to be, it could be good.”
Dean Brown’s Liberal government created TransAdelaide through its controversial Public Transport Bill passed in May 1994, which also gave private operators access to 50 per cent of the public transport system.
