new PTA to provide better planned and integrated services

1 July 2003

For the first time, Western Australia will have an agency dedicated to overseeing all of the State’s public transport services.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said that from July 1, 2003 the new Public Transport Authority PTA would combine the Western Australian Government Railways Commission, Transperth, the administration of school buses and regional public transport and the $1.4 billion New MetroRail project.

“Western Australia’s public transport system of road, rail and ferries will record an estimated 95 million passenger boardings this year (to June 30, 2003),” Ms MacTiernan said.

“Access to quality affordable public transport underpins the community’s access to health and community services, education and opportunities for employment.

“In the city it brings environmental and economic benefits by reducing pollution and congestion – without it the city would be unworkable.

“Public Transport also delivers mobility for those who through age, disability or economic circumstances do not have access to private travel.

“In rural Western Australia our public transport services also make an important contribution to local tourism.

 “Creating a single public transport agency will result in more effective, better co-ordinated services for existing passengers and potential new users.

 “The new agency will be responsible for planning and constructing new public transport infrastructure and marketing public transport.

“It will also enable a more coordinated approach to security on metropolitan bus and train networks.

“WAGR has gone through a series of changes since it was formed in 1890. The privatisation of rail freight in 2000 left it as purely a provider of passenger services.”

Ms MacTiernan said the PTA’s responsibilities would include:

Transperth

• more than 1000 buses servicing 305 passenger routes and 482 school special routes, and 56 million boardings annually
• four railway lines, 54 stations, 48 two-car sets, and 31 million annual boardings
  a ferry service between Barrack Square and South Perth with two ferries and 480,000 annual boardings; and
• a 227-member Transit Guard force and other security services

Transwa

• Three passenger train services – the Prospector, Australind and Avonlink and 20 road coaches on a 2500km network of integrated train and coach services

Regional Transport

• town bus services in Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland, and
• town school bus services in Broome, Collie, Esperance, Karratha, Kununurra, Manjimup, Narrogin and
• more than 700 orange school bus contracts which carry 25,000 students a day and travel a total of 143,000 km a day

NewMetroRail

• the $1.4 billion project to extend rail services to Kwinana, Rockingham Mandurah, Clarkson and Thornlie and purchase 93 new railcars
   

Ms MacTiernan said that in 2003-2004 the PTA would have a recurrent budget of $354 million and a capital works budget of $281 million.

Information about the PTA is available online at www.pta.wa.gov.au

MEDIA CONTACT:  Steve Keogh 9213 6400  Mobile:  0409 592 138