The Federal Opposition leader has demonstrated that he simply does not understand public transport, says the Australasian Railways Association.
“Comments today that an incoming Abbott Government would cut all urban rail funding should send shivers down the spine of commuters everywhere,” Australasian Railway Association (ARA) CEO Bryan Nye said.
Over the last decade, public transport use has almost doubled in many of our cities, as Australians realise the congestion-busting benefits that rail transport in particular brings. Given that freight distribution is directly affected by congestion, supply chains have a keen interest in an efficiently working public transport network.
“We need more investment in rail and other forms of public transport to keep our cities from grinding to a standstill over the next 20 years, not less,” Mr Nye went on to say.
“Clearly, not everyone can afford an inner city car parking space, so how does Mr Abbott propose our growing population will get to work each and every day if he refuses to fund public transport?”
In recent years, all sides of politics have acknowledged that the federal government needs to be a key player in public transport in order to ensure a reasonable economic, social and environmental future for our country. Internationally, progressive and conservative governments from the US to the UK and right across Asia and South America all recognise federal involvement in public transport as a sensible approach.
Mr Abbott’s hands-off approach goes against even his own party. As his predecessor as Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull recently commented: “The sheer efficiency of public transport was a great reminder, actually, for all of us as we consider the problems of congestion in our cities – that there is really no way to ease congestion in big cities other than by investing in mass transit.” (20/09/2012)
“Leaving public transport solely to the states whilst continuing to fund road projects makes no sense- there is simply no way to coordinate, prioritise and build the public transport our cities need without involvement at a federal level,” Mr Nye continued.
“Investment in public transport has advantages in almost every aspect of our lives. Public transport is healthier for us, it reduces carbon emissions, it is safer and above all it creates communities we would rather live in,” Mr Nye continued.
One single rail line operating at peak efficiency can carry the same number of people as a ten lane freeway, and one bus can take up to 40 cars off the road.
International and Australian research shows that the overall automobile distance driven per capita is starting to level off and even decline, in contrast to a dramatic increase in public transport patronage over the last decade.
“While the current federal government has invested more in public transport than all previous governments combined, there is still more funding needed to ensure the future economic, social and environmental viability of our cities and regions,” Mr Nye said. (306)
