Minutes: Access and Inclusion Reference Group

Date: Monday, 18 January

Location: Public Transport Centre, Summers Street,

Time: 4:00pm-5:30pm

Attendees: • METRONET: Clare Sciorilli (CS), Zoe Jones (ZJ), Meg Harvey (MH) • Department of Communities: Christopher Cable (CC) • Public Transport Authority: Jen Oxlade (JO), Jim Altham (JA), Charlotte Hayes (CH) • AIRG representatives: Melissa Northcott (MN), Elizabeth Edmondson (EE), Adam Hewber (AH), Siyat Abdi (SA), Jessica Clarkson (JC), Jonathan van Butzelaar (JvB), Christine Allen (CA), Erika Webb (EW), Brendan Cullinan (BC)

Apologies: • Mark Hutson (MHu), Julie Waylen (JW), Natalia Gemmell (NG), Simone Bastin (SB), Deb Tan (DT), Louise Madden (LM)

1. Previous meeting

Minutes accepted and no additional changes raised.

Outstanding actions:

Nov-20: Accessibility for 2021 planned shutdowns Responsibility: METRONET Status: To be addressed at item 2.

Nov-20: Present further designs on buffet area Responsibility: Garry Taylor Status: No update

Nov-20: Provide an update on landscape patterns Responsibility: Chris Deshon Status: No update

Nov-20: Determine if environmental comfort assessments are a standard requirement for all projects Responsibility: Jen Oxlade Status: Awaiting further information from some projects, an update will be ready for the next meeting.

2. Discussion: disruptions in 2021 – Accessibility requirements

Charlotte Hayes, Transperth Information and Events Manager, presented to the group regarding upcoming train service disruptions, particularly in relation to the shutdowns on the Fremantle Line occurring from January to April 2021 as part of upgrades at Claremont Station to install a turnback facility for the new Airport Line. An update on the Accessibility Bus Stop Program was also provided.

• Starting in 2021, there will be an unprecedented amount of disruptions to the train lines due to the amount of rail projects in construction over the coming years, as well as standard maintenance. • There are different types of closures that can occur, including: ‒ Standard Window - the hours between last train and first train: approx. 01:00 to 04:30hrs. ‒ Extended Nightly - standard window plus extending into a weeknight, typically Sunday to Thursday nights from 20:30hrs onwards. ‒ 56hr weekend - typically 20:30 Friday to approx. 10 mins before first service Monday morning. ‒ 80hr weekend - as above, normally over a long weekend (encompass public holiday). ‒ Degraded Mode of Operating (DMO) – reduced or amended timetabled services such as single line running. ‒ Blockade - part or whole line closed to train services for a number of days in a row, affecting peak periods. • For larger scale closures, the below factors are considered: ‒ Customer impacts (experience, number of passengers affected, special events) ‒ System impacts (number of changes required, conflicts) ‒ Third party impacts (, freight etc) ‒ Impacts to train operations (access to depots, flow to other train lines) ‒ Bus resources (do we have enough vehicles or drivers) ‒ Project risk (contingency, achieving planned works, increased requirements) ‒ Proven performance (have we done this before?) ‒ Opportunities for collaboration with other works ‒ Project cost and staging impacts (particularly when reviewing multiple options) • The current challenges associated with upcoming disruptions include: ‒ Multiple lines will be disrupted ‒ Impacts to Indian Pacific and services ‒ Increased road congestion ‒ Disruption during event days (incl. Royal Show, Xmas, AFL) ‒ Potential cancellation of late-night train replacement services

‒ Potential project overruns (service does not come back when advertised) and related contingencies • To address this level of disruption for the Claremont Station works and to ensure the public are suitably notified of any changes and impacts, Transperth will use the following communication methods: ‒ Signage ‒ Website (including animation) ‒ Social media ‒ My Alerts (including Accessibility Alert) ‒ Transperth app notifications ‒ Activation staff at stations ‒ Notifications to schools • Claremont Station project impacts (February – April 2021) ‒ As part of the Claremont Station project, there will be a single line of operation between Showgrounds Station and Fremantle Station, with platform changes part way through the works. Claremont Station will be closed for the duration of the works. There will be delays at pedestrian crossings, especially at Cottesloe Station. ‒ Following an audit of replacement bus stops on the Fremantle Line, five stops were found to be non-compliant. Three have since been fixed, however two stops at City West Station remain unfixed as they require input from the City of Perth. ‒ A special school bus route 700 to be established for school children only to reduce the number of people on trains during peak. ‒ In some cases, bus services may be quicker than catching the train during the works. • Accessibility Bus Stop Program ‒ 50% of bus stops have been upgraded, with $6.5 million allocated this financial year for further upgrades ‒ QR codes will be added to all stops to provide information including live bus times and disruption notifications. Transperth are working with VisAbility to ensure accessibility compliance for this service.

Questions

• EE – it is not possible to disembark at Karrakatta Station by electric wheelchair due to a significant gap from the train to the platform, will this be fixed in advance of the shutdowns? o CH - the platforms will be resurfaced at Cottesloe prior to the works commencing. Staff will be available to meet passengers at Karrakatta with a ramp to ensure electric wheelchairs are able to safely alight. It is encouraged that passengers call 1800 800 022 an hour in advance if possible, to arrange this, or 9220 9999 for urgent assistance. • CA – will there be frequent announcements at the station?

o CH – yes, however it won’t be possible to know exactly when the train will be coming due to signal changes occurring as part of the works, so digital signs at stations will not be in use. Those with vision impairments may also have added difficulties as they will have to board trains from different sides of the platform at some stations. • AH – are you going to be encouraging taxi use during this time? o CH – yes, there is no doubt the disruptions will be impactful, and a taxi will be the most convenient option for some passengers. • EE – there is a curb issue at Showgrounds Station, will this be fixed in advance of the works? o CH – the local council is required to upgrade the footpath first, and then the project team can complete their component of the upgrade. If the council does not complete this work, Transperth will ensure staff are available to assist patrons in wheelchairs into a taxi instead. • EE – is it possible to have alerts specifically related to accessibility on My Alerts? o CH – this is currently available, on the website there is an option to tick a box for accessibility and receive relevant notifications. • EW – when bus stops are being upgraded temporary stops often aren’t accessible and can sometimes be difficult to find, is there a workaround for this? o CH – it is difficult to make temporary bus stops fully accessible, particularly as the main reason stops are upgraded is to make the permanent stop accessible. • EE – there have also been issues with some buses not stopping at the correct spot when a ramp is required, and instead stopping past the bus stop. o CH – there is a requirement for buses to stop at the information unit so that the tactiles are central to the door, if there are ongoing issues with buses on particular routes not stopping in the correct location it’s encouraged to provide Transperth with feedback by calling 13 62 13 or on the feedback form on the Transperth website. • AH – is there a larger issue with buses being too big for smaller inner-city roads? o CH – our buses haven’t gotten any bigger, there are competing demands for road space though between vehicles, buses, cyclists and pedestrian pathways, which does mean that the space is tight on some roads. • SA – is it possible to get some printed information beforehand to translate for groups? o CH – all of the information is available now on the Transperth website, there is an FAQ on accessibility, and feedback is encouraged to assist with this. • JvB – will information be broadcast on the train PA system at relevant stations? o CH – in most cases staff will enter the train and make announcements that people may need to alight if they’re continuing to Fremantle etc., and platform announcements will include this information as well. • EE – would it be possible for drivers to announce what side the door opens on stations impacted by the Claremont works? o CH – unlikely to happen as direction of doors depends what way you’re facing in the train, best recommendation is to phone 1800 800 002 if you will require assistance.

• SA – as this process might be replicated across further upcoming disruptions, will you be taking specific feedback from the Claremont Station project? o CH – yes and please provide feedback or complaints at any time to the Transperth Infoline (13 62 13). Feedback can also be given via the Transperth website. Providing feedback through these channels allows for information to be properly logged and transferred to the subject matter expert more efficiently, and also allows for trends in the data to be easily identified. Official requests also must be answered within seven days and are audited. • MN – is there any information on upcoming Denny Avenue works? Often asked as a Councillor what is happening and would be helpful to have some information to provide. o CS will touch base with MN, and we can try to do this at a future meeting o JO – specifics of the Denny Avenue upcoming works is being worked on now and will be available publicly soon.

3. New actions • Provide details of the special assistance line and the central monitoring unit, as well as where to provide feedback and complaints to the group via email – actioned on Tuesday 19 January 2021. • Follow up to ensure that the affected suburbs have not dropped of a recent upgrade to ‘My Alerts’ – CH.