Transport focus

The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC), which includes Greater Dandenong Council, this week submitted the plan to Premier John Brumby with a list of key projects it said would enhance public transport for residents in Melbourne’s east and south-east.
The plan calls for a focus on Dandenong as the State Government has earmarked it as a transit city.
ETC chairman and Knox City councillor Mick Van De Vreede said more people than ever were catching public transport – and services needed to meet demand.
“We know that in the eastern suburbs three out of five people would consider getting out of their car’s if they had decent public transport options,” Cr Van De Vreede said.
“Public transport usage in the majority of local municipalities is very low at around three to seven per cent, compared with a much higher rate in other parts of Melbourne.
“This makes it clear that we need a generational step up in public transport.”
Cr Van De Vreede said the ETC’s submission to the State Government provided plans specific to the area that it had put together with public input.
“If the State Government includes our short, medium and long term projects in the Metropolitan Transport Plan then we will eventually have all the public transport options we need to dramatically reduce congestion, to protect our families from rising fuel prices and to negate rising greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.