HECTOR MCKENZIE

1
HECTOR MCKENZIE Deputy Director Public Transport
Franchise Relationships
2
A Potted History

• Steady progress has been made in improving
  accessible public transport in Victoria
• 1985/6 First low floor accessible buses
  introduced by Grendas
• 1998 DOI Action Plan
• 2001 First low floor tram introduced by Yarra
• 2002 DDA DSAPT passed (Cwlth)
• May 2006 Meeting Our Transport Challenges (MOTC)
  allocates 250m for infrastructure plus announces
  funding for low floor trams.
• September 2006 State Action Plan 2006 2012
  released

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The Starting Point

• Identify progress towards the milestones,
• broadly
• 25 by 2007
• 55 by 2012
• 90 by 2017
• Full by 2022 except
• trains and trams 2032
• Some Parts 100 by
• 2007 and 2012
• Gaps to meet milestones (red, orange) identified
  as basis to funding programs shown on next slide.

4
The starting point
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Action Plan 2006 2012

• The State Action Plan 2006 released in September
  2006.
• 48 actions to meet 2007 and 2012 milestones for
  infrastructure
• ?System-wide initiatives Metlink Signage,
  Information, Ticketing
• ?Melbourne trains
• ?Melbourne trams
• ?Melbourne and regional buses
• ?V/Line Passenger
• ?Taxis

6
Trains Stations

• Metro Trains
• Almost 100 accessible
• Regional Trains
• 89 compliance, 38 new V/Locities
• Continued role for conductors providing direct
  assistance
• Upgrading older carriages to remove need for
  people in larger wheelchairs to travel in
  conductors area
• Access Paths
• Flange Gap cannot be eliminated
• New Standards developed for
• pedestrian rail level crossings

7
Stations (contd)

• Station Works
• Widening platform ends
• Ramps - generally involving low rises
• Currently developing a lift strategy and
  standards
• TGSIs (Over 50 stations treated over last four
  years)
• Lighting - interiors, underground stations, new
  white light
• Hearing augmentation hearing loops where
  technically feasible but visual information
  alternative preferred

8
Trams Boarding

• Trams
• Boarding remains Victorias most difficult issue
  
• Currently 95 low floor trams (23)
• Tram replacement program funded in MOTC
• Interface with infrastructure critical

9
Trams Stops

• Boarding
• Platform stops preferred access better for
  everyone (but 250,000 to
• 1m each)
• Several different designs developed
• Focus has shifted from tackling most difficult
  to also doing easier ones
• Maximum likely platform numbers 30 to 40 of
  stops
• Remaining Issues
• Threshold gap between tram and platform
• Coordination of low floor tram introduction and
  platform stop locations
• Need for lifts in new low floor trams
• Integration of lifts with road safety treatments

10
Metro Regional Buses

• Buses
• almost 50 compliance, over 90 buses replaced
  each year
• Many new and extended services being provided
• Bus Stops
• 4 of 26,000 bus stops are compliant
• major program underway TGSIs, access paths and
  surfaces (2012 issue) with local government
• complex logistics with large numbers of stops,
  locations and parties involved
• Programs to meet 2007 milestone in 2008 and
  progress towards 2012 milestone.
• Coaches
• 35 compliance on long haul coaches

11
Taxis

• Key issues
• Improved Response Times for Wheelchair accessible
  taxis
• Raised identification numbers on taxis
• Taxi industry and regulators are addressing both
  issues nationally
• Continue Multi Purpose Taxi Program
• (50 fare subsidy)

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Next steps

• Roll out Funded Programs to Meet Milestones to
  2012
• New Ticketing System
• Myki Smart card system
• Many options to purchase a ticket
• System practices best fare outcomes
• New ticketing system will set new benchmarks for
  compliance
• Five Year Review of Standards (Cwlth) -
  submissions due 24 August
• 2007
• Develop Scope and funding for 2012 2022 and
  2032 requirements