Page 92 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2006
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For industries whose cores are fuel and transportation costs, this is a disappointing outcome and one that only a Howard government reversal can address. But the ACT government has introduced measures to reduce the personal economic burden on the constituents we represent. These measures are most thoroughly articulated in the sustainable transport plan for the ACT released in 2004.
The intention of this document was to establish the strategic framework for a number of government initiatives that would provide very real alternatives to the normal, everyday car travel that a lot of commuters undertake in the ACT. These programs, as we have heard from Mr Corbell in this place on many occasions, have since combined to demonstrate the ACT government’s strong commitment not only to easing the burden on consumers’ hip pockets, but also to easing the burden on Canberra’s natural environment. May I also say that it would be assisting to control our greenhouse gas emissions.
It seems that in this current climate of Liberal Party politics I might be listened to more closely if I spoke in numbers, rather than words. I know these probably are not the numbers you are most interested in now, Mr Smyth, but listen closely. ACTION’s adult patronage continues to grow with weekday adult passenger boardings averaging well over 22,000 on working days. In fact, adult boardings broke all records last week, with 23,000 seated on both Wednesday and Thursday. This equates to over 23,000 fewer car trips a day on Canberra roads.
How have we managed to get such a vast number of people to support our services? On this side we call it progress. Consider the development and progress that this government has undertaken in ACTION alone. We have implemented the one fare anywhere ticketing strategy and a single zone bus fare across the Canberra bus network that replaces the Liberal’s prohibitive multi-zone fare structure. This has allowed improved interconnection of services, resulting in easier cross-territory travel.
We have developed and implemented a range of Xpresso services that allow those with travel deadlines, for example, people going to work or to university, to consider the public transport alternative without sacrificing their mornings. We have invested heavily in the purchase of new state-of-the-art buses so that commuters are not forced to concede comfort when they make the choice of public transport over private driving. We are providing accessible transport for people with disabilities, and bike racks for the bike-riding commuter.
We have begun the consultation and assessment phase of a busway project designed to deliver rapid transit options for commuters between Belconnen and the city, when appropriate. We have introduced flexibus evening bus services that allow ACTION to tailor the provision of services in a manner more efficient and responsive to commuters’ needs. We have established greater ease of access to bus timetable information with a newly implemented capability to have an SMS sent directly to your mobile phone with information on the next available service. We have appropriated the money for the construction of LCD timetable displays at bus interchanges around Canberra enabling real-time information on buses and their expected arrival. The cumulative effect is better transport options for Canberrans. Canberrans are being encouraged to get out of their cars and into the buses. They are being encouraged to ride their bikes to work and to use
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