Public Transport
What we are asking
Bus network:
Building on the momentum of our Better Buses campaign we are asking for continued service reviews and better integration of public transport services. This includes:
- A more reliable, faster and more frequent express bus route to connect our major townships with Frankston train station, with peak period frequencies of 15 minutes and a transition to zero emission buses within the next five years.
- A zero emissions cross-Peninsula bus service from Hastings to Mornington as soon as possible, including interchanges to connect with the express route and the proposed Mornington to Docklands ferry service.
- Extended operating hours for the Rosebud FlexiRide service.
- Extension of the FlexiRide service to include Mornington / Mt Martha, for connection to the proposed Mornington to Docklands ferry service.
- A review of timetables and coordination between connecting bus and train services.
- Bicycle carrying equipment for buses on the Peninsula.
Rail network:
- An upgrade of train stations to improve safety, amenity, accessibility, and active transport connections.
- Funding for rail electrification from Frankston to Langwarrin and Hastings, and integration of a bus transport hub to support this.
- Interim improvements in the service frequency on the Stony Point line, to at least 20 minutes during peak periods and 40 minutes off-peak.
What makes this unique
An incredible 82% of the Mornington Peninsula is not serviced by adequate public transport. There are significant levels of social and economic disadvantage on the Peninsula which are worsened by a dependency on private vehicles.
Public transport emerged as a clear priority for our community through the Community Vision engagement process. Our community will benefit from transport and economic benefits, with a reduction of car dependency, better connectivity and access to jobs, education, services and amenity across the Mornington Peninsula and beyond.
The long timeframe for electrification of rail onto the Mornington Peninsula, means that the significance of buses for local public transport is crucial.
The bus services on the Peninsula need to be reviewed as an integrated system rather than just a collection of routes, to improve connections and reduce barriers to linked trips. This would provide much needed opportunities for residents to connect to important activity centres in Hastings, Rosebud, Mornington, Frankston and beyond.
There are pockets of significant disadvantage across the Peninsula:
- Our median household income is $1,276, lower than Greater Melbourne’s average of $1,542.
- There is a substantially higher proportion of older people in the Peninsula community.
- There is a significant proportion of the Peninsula community with some form of disability.
- 33% of Peninsula residents experience rental stress, and six towns on the Mornington Peninsula suffer housing stress higher than the Australian average.
- 16% of our young people leave school early and 36% of our residents are disengaged with work or education, compared to 27% across Greater Melbourne.
These economic and social factors mean that access to private vehicles may be limited – leading to major transport disadvantage and potential isolation without an adequate and accessible public transport service.
A growing number of local residents are homeless or at serious risk of becoming homeless on the Peninsula. Elderly residents, and women and children are disproportionally affected. While the provision of more affordable housing is critical, there is an urgent need to also provide reliable access to public transport to create opportunities and access to jobs and services.
One of the biggest barriers for Mornington Peninsula businesses is access to a skilled workforce. Workers from other areas seeking employment on the Peninsula find the lack of public transport a disincentive. This is especially an issue over the summer months in key sectors such as tourism and hospitality and has been worsened by COVID-19.
The benefits – supporting evidence and strategies
Buses are acknowledged as a vital part of the State’s integrated transport system. Victoria’s Bus Plan sets out how the Victorian Government will deliver a modern, productive, environmentally sustainable bus network that increases the number of people choosing to take the bus by delivering simple, safe, reliable and comfortable journeys.
Rail electrification to Langwarrin and Hastings is identified as a priority initiative within Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List (February 2021).
Plan Melbourne identifies Hastings, Mornington and Rosebud as Major Activity centres and the Port of Hastings Industrial Precinct as being of state significance.
The Shire’s Climate Emergency Plan sets a goal of net zero emissions by 2040. A key summit target is that by 2030, transport emissions will be reduced by 50% from 2018 levels. The Shire is also developing an Integrated Transport Strategy which will rely on an accessible, frequent bus network to help alleviate transport disadvantage and reduce transport emissions across the Peninsula.
There is significant support from key groups including the Committee for Greater Frankston, Committee for Mornington Peninsula, Port of Hastings, Township resident associations, Chambers of Commerce, the Department of Transport and Public Transport Victoria for both the electrification of the railway line and better provisioning of the bus network.
Write to the Minster for Public Transport
To assist us in pursuing public transport improvements across the Peninsula, we are asking the community to write to the Minister for Public Transport about the times you have been impacted by public transport on the Peninsula.
Ben.Carroll@parliament.vic.gov.au
The Hon. Ben Carroll MP, Minister for Public Transport
Level 20, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
Ben.Carroll@parliament.vic.gov.au
The following questions may help you in writing your own letter to the Minister.
- What the proposed route improvements would mean to you?
- Would you be more likely to use buses if they were more frequent and reliable?
- Have you ever been left behind by a bus on the Peninsula?
- What other bus upgrades would you like to see on the Peninsula? Example; a cross peninsula bus service (to and from), on demand bus services (where would you use this on the Peninsula).