Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

As part of the implementation of the Unsworth Review recommendations, the Ministry of Transport called a meeting with community groups on 25th May 2004. The Ministry was seeking comments on draft proposals for new Service Planning Guidelines for metropolitan bus contracts. Regional and rural contracts are being handled separately.

Two members of APT were present, along with representatives of about a dozen other groups.

Participants had been asked to comment on some fairly detailed service planning guidelines, which are to be released in a final format in the first week of June. The new contracts for the metropolitan regions are to be signed by 1st January 2005.

The objective will not be to compete with other public transport modes, but to get people out of their cars. Instead of the inflexible Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) which are set in legislation, the new SPGs will subject to regular review.

Comments and questions raised by the participants included:

• community consultation
• the periodical review process
• complaints mechanism
• termination of contracts
• access to contractual details
• liaison between the “lead entity” and other operators in contract area
• dominance of RTA in planning role
• commitment to bus priority
• standard of vehicles
• accessibility requirements
• calculation of demand

APT provided a written list of our comments to the Ministry. We will continue to monitor progress.