❓ Question regarding the City of Vincent's opposition to peak-period bus lanes on Fitzgerald Street. Minister defends the project, highlighting its benefits and criticising the City's new mayor's stance, threatening reallocation of resources.
AnsweredQoN 329Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CITY OF VINCENT — PEAK-PERIOD BUS LANES
329. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for
Transport:
I note media reports that the City
of Vincent does not support the introduction of peak-period bus lanes on
Fitzgerald Street. Can the minister please provide some information about this
important project and recent developments?
329. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for
Transport:
I note media reports that the City
of Vincent does not support the introduction of peak-period bus lanes on
Fitzgerald Street. Can the minister please provide some information about this
important project and recent developments?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The Public Transport Authority has been working closely with officers from both
the City of Perth and the City of Vincent to look at converting the existing
traffic lanes on Fitzgerald Street between Walcott Street and James Street into
a peak-period bus-only access lane similar to what was done on Beaufort Street.
This is not the Metro Area Express solution for us. This is an interim
solution; we said that we would defer it. The experience on Beaufort Street saw
a 39 per cent increase in people catching public transport on that street. We
now know during peak periods that 40 per cent of all people movement down
Beaufort Street is on a bus. We have been working closely with the cities to
improve this and to see where else we can expand this. This opportunity as an
interim measure for Fitzgerald Street has come about so that we can start
increasing the activity on buses in advance of the MAX solution. We think that
is a prudent decision to make. Further to that point, this would involve some
line markings at some of the intersections in areas that are already clearways.
It will have little impact on retailers or the existing traffic on Fitzgerald Street
in those areas.
It is interesting that the City of
Vincent has previously supported not only the government financially, but also
the works we have done on Beaufort Street. It seems that we have now struck a
hurdle with the new mayor who has started at the City of Vincent. It is
interesting to watch this. I think that mayor needs to put aside his political
posturing for a minute and really focus on what is in the best interests of the
broader community. It is really interesting that the decision by the council
contradicts the recommendations of officers from the shire who recommended this
should go ahead, because of the examples on Beaufort Street and the benefits we
have seen gained by the broader community. This is not just for the ratepayers
of Vincent; this is for all commuters who use Fitzgerald Street. It will
provide a more convenient public transport solution.
I cannot understand why the City of
Vincent wants to go this way. It puts us in a position in which we will now
question it. There are plenty of cities out there looking for greater services.
We have a limited supply of assets to use but we will now consider reallocating
those assets elsewhere, if this is what the city wishes to do. I think this is
in the best interests, and the City of Vincent should reconsider its decision.
The Public Transport Authority has been working closely with officers from both
the City of Perth and the City of Vincent to look at converting the existing
traffic lanes on Fitzgerald Street between Walcott Street and James Street into
a peak-period bus-only access lane similar to what was done on Beaufort Street.
This is not the Metro Area Express solution for us. This is an interim
solution; we said that we would defer it. The experience on Beaufort Street saw
a 39 per cent increase in people catching public transport on that street. We
now know during peak periods that 40 per cent of all people movement down
Beaufort Street is on a bus. We have been working closely with the cities to
improve this and to see where else we can expand this. This opportunity as an
interim measure for Fitzgerald Street has come about so that we can start
increasing the activity on buses in advance of the MAX solution. We think that
is a prudent decision to make. Further to that point, this would involve some
line markings at some of the intersections in areas that are already clearways.
It will have little impact on retailers or the existing traffic on Fitzgerald Street
in those areas.
It is interesting that the City of
Vincent has previously supported not only the government financially, but also
the works we have done on Beaufort Street. It seems that we have now struck a
hurdle with the new mayor who has started at the City of Vincent. It is
interesting to watch this. I think that mayor needs to put aside his political
posturing for a minute and really focus on what is in the best interests of the
broader community. It is really interesting that the decision by the council
contradicts the recommendations of officers from the shire who recommended this
should go ahead, because of the examples on Beaufort Street and the benefits we
have seen gained by the broader community. This is not just for the ratepayers
of Vincent; this is for all commuters who use Fitzgerald Street. It will
provide a more convenient public transport solution.
I cannot understand why the City of
Vincent wants to go this way. It puts us in a position in which we will now
question it. There are plenty of cities out there looking for greater services.
We have a limited supply of assets to use but we will now consider reallocating
those assets elsewhere, if this is what the city wishes to do. I think this is
in the best interests, and the City of Vincent should reconsider its decision.
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