Figures show Perth commuters flocking to public transport

23/8/00
Transport Minister Murray Criddle today released figures which show that Perth commuters are embracing the public transport system and flocking to the trains, buses and ferries.
Mr Criddle said the official 1999-2000 financial year figures underpinned public confidence in the system and were a credit to the managers and operators of the network, both private and Government.
"It must be absolutely galling for the Opposition to learn that boardings on buses have risen by 2.0 per cent (900,000) in the past year and that boardings on the trains are up by 2.2 per cent (600,000) in the same period," he said.
"The Opposition has tried to paint a very grim picture but the figures are telling a completely different story, with an overall increase in passenger journeys up by 2.8 per cent in the past year.
"The 55.4 million journeys taken on the public transport system in 1999-2000 mean that patronage has increased by 5.5 per cent since 1995-96.
"The Government has been able to put in place a whole range of initiatives which have brought high-frequency, flexibility and innovation to Perth's public transport system. We have set out to provide commuters with a safe, affordable and viable alternative to the private motor vehicle.
"We are working diligently to make the system even better. There are now 152 of our new buses in service, more high-frequency routes, priority bus lanes being built on the Causeway and the new transit way system about to be constructed on the Kwinana Freeway.
"We have an ambitious program being implemented and I'm delighted that these new patronage figures show we are on the right track."

Mr Criddle said there were 77.39 million boardings on the Transperth bus, train and ferry system in the 1999-00 financial year, translating to 55.4 million journeys.
Because some journeys took more than one boarding - for example, where a passenger used a train and a bus - the lesser figure of 55.4 million journeys was used.
"We are finding that the number of boardings, while increasing, has not grown at the same rate as the total journeys," the Minister said.
"This is largely due to the more complete and comprehensive bus routes now being offered.
"For example, a passenger can now travel on the Circle Route and in one trip complete a journey that previously may have required three transfers.
"This increase in patronage reflects growing public confidence in our public transport system and makes a mockery of Opposition claims that the public transport system is not performing."
Major revisions of bus services have also occurred in the area east of the Kwinana Freeway, including the wider Canning area, as well as in Success, Atwell, and Cockburn.
Many specific bus routes have been improved on major services around Perth including the Circle Route which was introduced progressively from 1998 to 1999 and has proven a huge success.
"In a typical week, 64,000 trips are taken on the Circle Route - an outstanding figure," Mr Criddle said.
"The new high-frequency bus service from Rockingham to Fremantle is also proving to be a winner.
"With the Government's announced plans to extend the urban rail system south-west to Rockingham and Mandurah and further north to Clarkson, the public transport system will go from strength to strength."
Mr Criddle said the Government was focussed on trying to reduce car usage on a per capita basis in Perth.
"One of the really pleasing results emerging from the recently compiled 1999-2000 figures is that public transport journeys on a per capita basis have actually increased by one per cent, reversing a negative trend which had been continuing for some years," he said.
The patronage increases across the public transport system have also been enjoyed by the very popular Central Area Transit (CAT) system in the centre of Perth and Transperth buses and trains in the Perth Free Transit Zone. CAT patronage has increased by 7.3 per cent and Free Transit Zone usage has increased by 11.3 per cent over the past two years.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham on 9321 7333