Would you be happy to hop on and off multiple public transport options to get to work?

PUBLIC transport users would be forced to hop between buses, trains and trams to get to their destination quicker under an ambitious plan to be considered by a newly created government agency.

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PUBLIC transport users would be forced to hop between buses, trains and trams to get to their destination quicker under an ambitious plan to be considered by a newly created government agency.

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll will ask the government’s new South Australian Public Transport Authority to draw influence from other cities, where using multiple forms of transport for one commute are common.

Mr Knoll said a more integrated public transport network would help improve low patronage.

In a move that could draw significant political heat, the authority will also have to consider whether such a system could be delivered under the current ownership structure of public transport assets, or if a shake-up would be required.

 

 

In the greater Adelaide region, tram and train services are run by Government-owned AdelaideMetro but bus services are run by Torrens Transit and SouthLink.

The State Government will, in coming days, put out a tender for the development of the framework and operating model for the authority, which was a pre-election commitment. Mr Knoll has told The Advertiser that Adelaide’s public transport system was not as efficient as those in other cities.

“This is the start of a long conversation the new Marshall Government will be having with the people of South Australia about public transport reform,” Mr Knoll said.

“There’s no doubt that public transport networks in other capital cities around the country are faster, more cost effective and ultimately provide a better service for commuters,” he said. “The key is a highly integrated public transport network which South Australia hasn’t achieved compared with other cities.”

Mr Knoll said public transport use in South Australia was comparatively low when compared to other Australian cities and part of the reason why the state only recovered around 20 per cent of the costs associated with delivering public transport.

He said a more integrated model would lead to faster commute times.

“An integrated network means South Australians might have to take more than one mode of transport to get to where they want to go,” Mr Knoll said.

“That could be a bus service to a more efficient train line, or a first and last mile service to the O-Bahn. It works well in other cities because they have the frequency of services on their arterial lines to support an integrated model.”

 

Adelaide commuters would hop between trains, buses and trams to get to their destination quicker, under the new plan.

 

There are transport corridors across the Adelaide metropolitan area where multiple bus routes run alongside, or close to, train or tram lines and where efficiencies may be found.

Mr Knoll said despite catching more than one mode of transport, passengers in other cities were able to get people where they want to go faster.

“That’s something we need to seriously consider,” he said.

“This is one of the questions SAPTA needs to answer, how can we better integrate our public transport network to provide a better, faster and most cost effective service for South Australians?”

It was revealed in September’s State Budget that bus routes and train services with low patronage will be scrapped in a bid to improve efficiencies in the public transport network.