Posts tagged ‘public transport’
Northern Transport Corridor and the 2022 election results. Time to upgrade, extend Upfield line to Wallan
Congratulations to Tim Read, Anthony Cianflone, Kathleen Matthews-Ward election to parliament for Merribek
For the first time the three State MPs representing Merribek have all signed a climate emergency declaration. Congratulations to Dr Tim Read, Kathleen Matthews Ward and Anthony Cianflone. We look forward to working constructively with you in the next parliamentary term for ambitious climate action and rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for Victoria.
We also think there is a lesson here for Labor, reflected in the election results, in the lack of addressing public transport upgrade in the northern transport corridor, for duplication and extension of the Upfield line to Wallan.
Forum on Transport issues for Merribek for 2022 #vicvotes state election
Local Candidates for the 2022 state election discussed transport issues for Brunswick and the northern region in a forum organised by The Metropolitan Transport Forum and hosted by the City of Merri-bek at Brunswick Town Hall on 4 October 2022.
Some of the local issues discussed included:
- frequency and reliability of trains on the Upfield Line and the need to duplicate and extend the line;
- better bus services especially on Sundays;
- more level access tram stops to boost accessibility for all;
- safe cycling and provision of local protected cycling infrastructure.
- Refurbishment of Sydney Road to increase safety and liveability for all users
- Brunswick Level Crossing Removal
Climate and sustainability Comment on Council agenda 10 August 2022
Our comment on Moreland (Merri-Bek) Council agenda for 10 August 2022, sent to all Councillors.
Dear Councillors,
There are a few agenda items of significance at Council meeting in August. Two deal with improving cycling infrastructure, one with advocacy for improving public transport (buses) as part of a northern region assessment. These three agenda items are important for addressing transport emissions in Moreland.
Transport is about 16 percent of Moreland’s community emissions profile, with automotive emissions being 12 percent. (Refer Snapshot July 2019-June 2020 https://snapshotclimate.com.au/locality/municipality/australia/victoria/moreland/2019/fy )
The Councillor NOM on a Council policy on surfaces for sportsfields and open spaces is also important for climate and sustainability considerations.
(more…)Rising Transport emissions reason to upgrade and extend the #UpfieldLine
Australia’s rising transport emissions. Source: Chartingtransport.com
Climate Action Moreland member Pauline Galvin highlighted the importance of track duplication and upgrade of the Upfield train line to enhance mode shift to more sustainable transport and reduce transport climate emissions.
Her speech was made at a rally in Fawkner Organised by the Upfield Transport Alliance in the campaign for the state government to stop ignoring transport infrastructure in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, and provide sustainable transport options for an expanding population living along the Upfield line and further north.
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Moreland Council adopts transformative transport strategy
Moreland Mayor Cr Abboud
Moreland Mayor Cr Natalie Abboud walks the talk on mode share shift to sustainable transport.
To conclude the debate on Moreland Council’s transformative Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy (MITS) Cr Abboud told her own personal journey which outlined her fears and her new found freedom in her Mayoral e-bike that she uses to move about Moreland fulfilling her duties as Mayor.
Her speech came after 2 hours of debate in the Council chamber on the strategy and 18 amendments that were proposed for the Council motion. Most amendments were debated: some were lost, some were passed and incorporated into the final motion. The Strategy was passed with 10 votes in Favour and one abstention.
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Transport Policy in Moreland for the Climate Emergency
Upfield path at Brunswick station
Climate Emergency
The Paris Climate Agreement aspirational target limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is starting to look unachievable. Even meeting the hard target of 2 degrees, which will still result in huge damage (e.g. probable loss of the Great Barrier Reef), will require governments everywhere to lift their game.
We are pleased to hear that Moreland Council acknowledged we are in a state of climate emergency at the Council meeting on 12 September 2018.
We note Moreland Council’s community emissions reduction policies and targets for 2020 and 2040. Transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse emissions, amounting to 25.8 per cent of emissions in Moreland in 2013-14. Governments at all levels need to lift their game.
Greenhouse Emissions from Transport
Transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse emissions, amounting to 19 per cent Australia wide, and 25.8 per cent of emissions in Moreland in 2013-14. Here too, governments at all levels need to lift their game.
Major Change in Priorities for Transport Infrastructure
At the state level we think a major shift is needed in Transport infrastructure funding. In 2018 Roads funding was 69.1 per cent, Public Transport 30.5 per cent and Active Transport just 0.36 per cent. There needs to be a major priority change in this area to meet climate targets.
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Carbon emissions and footprint of different transport types
Comparison of carbon emissions, and footprint, by transport type. Chart by @ElliotFishman via @PTUA
While transition to Electric Vehicles is perhaps a part of the solution, the real need is to increase public transport quality, service and frequency, and increase cycling and walking infrastructure, to create environmentally friendly social urban environments where people want to work, live, and visit and live their lives.
Transition to Electric Vehicles is only a small part of the solution, even when these vehicles are 100% renewables recharged (ie not dependant on a largely coal based grid). Electric Vehicles still contain a substantial space footprint use in our urban environment.
We already have so many parking issues around the Moreland municipality that just changing to electric vehicles isn’t going to solve the many space and parking problems in an urban environment, whether it be in Brunswick, Coburg, Glenroy or Fawkner. We clearly need to think laterally to find solutions.
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Climate Action = Sustainable Transport
Upfield path at Brunswick station
This comes just as the sad news on Friday night of the tragic death of a cyclist who was car door-ed on Sydney road and thrown in the path of a truck. The cyclist was an Italian visitor to Australia. He was unable to be revived at the scene. Much of Sydney Road was closed to Friday evening’s peak hour traffic because of the death.
This highlights that there is much to be done in improving cycling infrastructure to increase cyclist safety as cycling continues to grow and expand in the Moreland municipality. The Upfield Bike Path is already choking with congestion during morning and evening peak times as the main north-south route.
While Moreland Council has been receptive to improving cycling infrastructure, this requires more substantial long term urban planning involving the State Government and VicRoads and funding at Federal and State levels. We need a cycling superhighway, fully separated from vehicle traffic, running north-south from Park Street to the Western Ring Road, with feeder paths to the east and west.
Peter Allan also nailed the issues regarding cycling in Moreland in this pre-election 2014 video:
More people cycling results in less vehicle emissions, plus providing an added community health and social benefit through active exercise. Improving walking, cycling and public transport contributes to reducing emissions under the Zero Carbon Moreland plan.
Public transport also needs improving in expanding the network and it’s efficiency. The Dan Andrews Victorian Labor Government has set about it’s promise of removing 50 level crossings with grade separation in Melbourne, including Munro and Bell street on the Upfield line and Glenroy Rd on the Craigieburn line. The announcement that the Melbourne Metro rail tunnel project will go ahead will also increase rail capacity through the rail network, a much needed improvement. The Greens suggested extending the No 19 Sydney Rd Tram line service to Fawkner: an even better idea would be extend the Sydney Rd tram past Fawkner to the Campbellfield shops, as suggested by Sustainable Fawkner.
Improving sustainability needs pressure on all three levels of government to make the infrastructure changes necessary as community behaviours change.
John Englart
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Transport Forum question on Climate change and heatwaves
The Moreland Transport Forum was held on Monday, just a few hours after Premier Denis Napthine signed the East West Link contracts. A few of us from Climate Action Moreland attended handing out our leaflet on East West Link being Climate Madness, and a climate postcard.
Andrea Bunting from our group submitted the following question to be asked at the forum. It was the most highly rated question.
With climate change, we are facing a hotter, carbon-constrained world. Currently during heatwaves we can experience power failures for public transport, unbearable heat in trams and trains, and buckling of train tracks. Dark roads also amplify the urban heat island effect; hence temperatures in our urban areas are much hotter, leading to increased deaths and illness. What will you to do (a) reduce dependency on fossil fuel usage in transport; (b) ensure that all transport infrastructure can deal with heat waves; and (c) reduce urban heat island effect from dark roads?
The question was asked slightly differently in person at the forum to all three candidates – sitting member for Brunswick Jane Garrett MP, Greens candidate for Brunswick Tim Read, and Liberal Party no 2 on the ticket for Northern metro region (Upper house) Gladys Liu.
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Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 