Single safety test needed for taxi and rideshare vehicles
Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton has asked the Minister for Public Transport to implement a single annual safety inspection standard for commercial passenger vehicles.
Ivanhoe Girls Grammar – Safe Public Transport Bill 2019 (Youth Parliament)
I am pleased to rise today to commend a group of talented young women from Ivanhoe Girls Grammar who presented their safe public transport bill to me last week. As part of our Youth Parliament program, the girls debated and passed a bill to implement new safety measures around public transport infrastructure and high-risk areas for women.
Barton secures school buses to Euroa
Education Minister James Merlino has agreed to keep school bus services running from Nagambie and Avenal to Euroa Secondary College.
Include Rowville and Doncaster rail in infrastructure blitz
The benefits of Victoria’s infrastructure developments will outweigh the short term pain of road and public transport disruptions, but even more public transport projects need the green light according to Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton.
Expansion of free tram zone and free transport for students and seniors
Extending the free tram zone to include Melbourne’s inner city hospitals, universities, sport and arts precincts came a step closer today with a motion from Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton passed in the Legislative Council.
Include Rapid Transit Busway in early works
A high speed rapid transit busway proposed in the North East Link preliminary designs must be included in early works according to Transport Matters Party leader and member for Eastern Metropolitan Rod Barton.
North East Link – public transport ready
My question is to Minister Pulford representing the Minister for Public Transport. I ask the minister to detail the government’s plans to ensure public transport infrastructure in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne is operating at peak capacity and offers the most attractive solution for travelling during the construction of the north-east link project.
Rowville Rail Line planning & design works due
Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (18:04): The matter I raise tonight is for the Minister for Public Transport, Minister Horne. I ask the minister for an update on the progress of planning and design works on the Rowville public transport extension. In April last year the Labor government announced $3 million for design and planning works for a train or rail extension between Caulfield and Rowville. At the time they said these works would be complete in a year—tick-tock. The 2018–19 federal budget also promised $475 million over a five-year period towards construction of a heavy rail line to service Monash.
In talks with Knox council this week we reviewed their public transport vision. The council’s preference is to run heavy rail from Huntingdale through to Rowville. They expressed concerns that stopping at Monash would disadvantage those travelling from the east and that any future business case for a further extension would never stack up if only part of the project was completed now.
Commuters in the eastern suburbs are car captives, the public transport offerings to move around these areas are minimal, and this contributes significantly to increasing congestion on our freeways and roads. Businesses along the proposed extension in Knox and Monash generate almost $27 billion to our state and national economy. These business communities are expanding rapidly, offering jobs, apprenticeships and education opportunities to local residents and those travelling from new suburbs further out. However, getting to work by public transport is almost impossible and car congestion in the area is a nightmare and will only get worse. So I ask the minister to release the findings of the planning and design works through to Rowville or provide an explanation of why this project has been delayed.
Upgrades needed at Box Hill Interchange
“I have invited the Minster to visit the Box Hill interchange with me to witness the extreme overcrowding at peak hour, and to take the opportunity to share information with local Council and stakeholders on the transport needs in the area and the progress of the steering committee.”
Duplication of the Hurstbridge Rail Line
I ask the minister to expedite second-stage upgrade work on the Hurstbridge line and extend the line duplication to include sections between Montmorency and Diamond Creek.