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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2814 ..
MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):
Mr Moore also talked about personal public transport. I referred earlier to changes that have been occurring within Canberra since 1984. There appear to be a number of trends in Canberra's development, including changing work patterns, more flexibility in household formation, shopping, leisure and educational participation, which indicate a need for changes to the city's current transport networks.
One area that has the potential to accommodate these new travel demands more effectively is personal public transport. Personal public transport is a concept that involves utilising the latest transport and telecommunications technology to provide a wider range of demand-responsive public transport services that improve the total transport network. This involves new types of affordable on-demand multihire maxitaxis and taxibuses, the integration of on-demand and conventional public transport through advanced computer and communications systems, and the development of a network of electronic bus stops providing real-time information on the costs and journey times of different travel options. This type of initiative would enable existing and new transport providers to market public transport services that compete with the convenience of private cars by offering a higher standard of service and better rates of return on investment.
The 1995 report on the prefeasibility study of personal public transport for Canberra concluded that there was promising potential for PPT here in Canberra which could have social, environmental and transport efficiency benefits. This assessment was based on a number of factors, including the potential for linking PPT to other public transport initiatives, parking and other policies which might influence PPT viability and demographic characteristics. Total estimated capital costs for a system covering the whole of Canberra were estimated to be around $82m. The Government recognised that this was a very substantial investment for a pioneer system and, clearly, other jurisdictions where this concept was being considered had similar concerns.
Nevertheless, the ACT appeared to be well placed to assist in the further development and implementation of personal public transport, with some of the basic components of a PPT system already developing in the Territory. For example, the experience and expertise gained from such initiatives as Austouch could be made available to assist with PPT prototype development. In addition, the sophisticated communications and technology base in the Territory and the general characteristics of a well-educated and affluent population, highly oriented towards technical change and development, were consistent with the personal public transport concept.
Over the past 18 months there have been national initiatives undertaken, including the development of a draft national personal public transport strategy. This proposed the development and field trialling of an integrated system prototype at several locations around the country. The ACT Government, in conjunction with the National Capital Authority, recognised that a Canberra field trial could both advance PPT development locally and substantially enhance the value and quality of a nationally consistent PPT system. Accordingly, a joint ACT Government-National Capital Authority proposal was submitted to the Federal Department of Housing and Regional Development in
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