People want integrated public transport options!

People want alternative, integrated transport options;
Still waiting for Labor’s Major Urban Public Transport Study;
Further evidence of Labor’s lack of leadership, vision and failure to plan properly for the future.

Liberal candidate for Denison, Alderman Elise Archer has been calling on the Premier and Infrastructure Minister to release to the public the Major Urban Public Transport Study since August 2009. It was due for release in April this year.

“This Study is expected to look at potential alternative public transport options for the next 10 years. I have been calling for the release of this study for several months now and I have been met with silence every time,” says Ald Elise Archer.

“I note that Federal Member for Denison, Duncan Kerr MP has now called for community support of Kristie & Ben Johnston’s proposal for battery rail from the Northern Suburbs to Hobart (Source: Mercury, “Train push gathers steam”, Monday 7 December 2009). I believe that considerable community support for this proposal already exists. Ben & Kristie have presented their proposal to numerous elected members of all three tiers of government and they have attended numerous Precinct meetings in the Northern Suburbs at which I have been present.”

“The ‘Our island our voices’ public forum held in Glenorchy in November 2009 confirmed that many people want to see what’s in this transport study before the State Election in March 2010. They also want integrated transport options which compliment other services, particularly light rail and bus services, which connect with each other to make their journey faster, easier, safer and cheaper, with less impact on the environment.”

“If the foreshadowed study is not released, people will be rightly cynical about the State Government’s lack of attention to public transport in Southern Tasmania. Meanwhile, the public continues to be delayed in traffic congestion throughout Hobart, and the Premier and the Minister responsible continue to sit on this report, which I believe was estimated to cost in the order of $250,000.”

“Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges has gone from crisis to crisis, and our infrastructure remains in chaos under his watch.”

“All options for improved and integrated public transport facilities for the greater Hobart area must be considered in the study, including (but not limited to) passenger rail, suburban ferry services, and park and ride facilities. I note the study was to also look at petrol prices, car pooling and other issues related to transport.”

“Labor has had 11 years to come up with a plan and there is still nothing in sight. We must plan for the future and not restrict travel to our existing transport corridors,” Ald Elise Archer says.
Elise Archer Liberal Candidate for Denison Alderman, Hobart City Council