ACTION FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT (NSW) INC. ANNUAL REPORT – 2001 THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2001 will not be remembered as a good year for sustainable transport, its users, or supporters in NSW. Sydney's new airport railway failed commercially, the proposed Bondi Beach line was abandoned, and construction of the Parramatta to Chatswood railway was deferred. The Federal government forsook principle for populism by ending the indexation of the fuel excise, at a cost in revenue of $4 billion over four years. The dewy-eyed successes of the transport arrangements for the Olympics succumbed to reality with the disbanding of the much-praised Olympic Roads & Transport Authority (ORTA) and big increases in the fares on its remnant major-event bus services. It has been difficult for us to maintain the necessary pressure on the various authorities because of the long time it takes to get responses, let alone action. This frustration can be partly explained by the fact that the Minister for Transport gets 25000 letters a year. There is, however, some good news. Ninety percent of Sydneysiders believe traffic congestion is a serious problem and more than two thirds want roads funding to be diverted to improving public transport. Government announcements of major new road projects are now met with increasing scepticism and ridicule from an informed public, aware of both the short-term nature of any congestion relief, and the phenomenon of induced traffic. As little as ten years ago, the Roads & Traffic Authority refused to even admit that such a phenomenon existed. Car-mad California has opened its last new freeway (SMH 22.8.01) and the Automobile Club of Southern California has accepted that "alternative methods" of moving people are required. APT ACHIEVEMENTS As with most voluntary organisations, APT's endeavours are constrained chiefly, not by a lack of money, but by a lack of workers. By its very nature, the degree of success of our advocacy is difficult to measure. Specific achievements have been the restoration of State Transit's "BusTripper" ticket, IPART's positive response to our submissions on fare increases, some inconsistent reductions in the noise from CityRail's platform advertising videos, a satisfying media presence, an improved location for the proposed railway station at Macquarie University, and the acceleration of the construction of the Parramatta to Mungarie Park and Blacktown to Windsor Road Transitways to match that of the Windsor Road upgrading. We compliment our colleagues in Bathurst for their role in the major improvements to that city's bus services. WORKS IN PROGRESS We have liaised regularly throughout the year with the government transport authorities and with other commuter organisations. We have continued our monitoring of Local Government, particularly in relation to Development Applications for developments which would discourage access by public transport or by walking or cycling. We are currently involved in the re-vitalisation of Parramatta Road, the Transport Safety Advisory Committee, the Centennial Park Access study, CityRail's station upgrading program, the proposed redevelopment of the Leichhardt bus depot site, and the current Inquiry into the operations of Sydney Ferries. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS On behalf of members, and the travelling public, I acknowledge the sacrifices made by the families of the members of the Management Committee in order that APT's work might be done. I also thank members and supporters for your assistance over the past year. Your personal campaigns, revealed principally in the letters columns of the newspapers, have also been noted with appreciation. LOOKING AHEAD APT will continue to act as watchdog on the transport proposals of both government and the private sector. Grandiose motorway projects and proposals for banal video advertising in all buses and train carriages are expected to occupy some of our time. Finally, I thank you for your past support and look forward to serving you in the future. Kevin Eadie – Convener – 25 September 2001