Fines for illegal parking skyrocket at packed Melbourne train stations
COMMUTERS were stung for almost $464,000 for illegal parking at Melbourne’s crowded train station carparks in 2016, a whopping $100,000 increase on the year before.
Leader
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THE number of fines for illegal parking is soaring at Melbourne’s crowded train station carparks.
Public Transport Victoria data shows 8778 infringements notices were issued during 2016 at station carparks totalling $464,145 in fines, almost $100,000 more than the year before.
In 2015, there were 7464 fines issued amassing $365,612 in revenue.
The fines don’t include those dealt out by police and council officers for parking illegally in nearby streets.
Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton told Leader that adding more car spaces or allowing myki card holders to have exclusive access to station carparks wouldn’t solve the problem.
He said the bus network needed to be expanded to include more frequent and connected services and secure bicycle storage facilities should be provided at all stations.
“There will always be a chronic shortage of parking no matter how many carparks we build as long we don’t get serious about other ways of accessing railway stations for those who live beyond walking distance,” he said.
Mr Morton said the parking shortage was putting pressure on neighbouring streets.
Box Hill, which has a carpark with 517 spaces, was the station at which the highest number of fines was issued. A total of 1038 fines were handed out, amounting to $84,247.
Mr Morton said Box Hill station was a major interchange and bus services in the area were falling short of what was required.
Werribee was second highest (554 fines) followed by Coolaroo (552), Watsonia (508), Jewell (483) and Sunshine (478).
Other heavily hit stations were Albion (348), West Footscray (297), Upfield (249) and Berwick (233).
Penalties for parking offences range from $31 to $155. Most fines issued at stations are for not parking within a parking bay or stopping in a no-stopping area.
RACV public policy general manager Brian Negus said shuttle services to and from stations and initiatives that make it easier for travellers to share lifts also needed to be considered in addressing accessibility issues.
Mr Negus said successive governments have struggled to keep up with the public transport needs of a growing population.
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources spokesman Lewis Hill said the State Government was investing $20 million to add up to 2100 extra spaces at stations across outer Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Mr Hill said the Government was also boosting tram, bus and bike connections to the rail network.