VEOLIA TRANSDEV AUSTRALASIA SUBMISSION IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT NSW LONG TERM TRANSPORT MASTER PLAN OCTOBER 2012 S VEOLIA TRANSDEV AUSTRALASIA SUBMISSION IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT NSW LONG TERM TRANSPORT MASTER PLAN OCTOBER 2012 INTRODUCTION Veolia Transdev Australia is very happy to provide this submission in response to the release of the draft NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan (LTTMP). Firstly the NSW Government should be congratulated for taking the time to prepare such a detailed and thorough plan and for its commitment to gather and consider the feedback from the community. When the draft plan was released, some of the commentary argued that there should have been detailed funding allocation and commitments to specific projects. In our view this criticism is not justified and it is entirely appropriate that time be taken to plan and budget for the correct priorities, taking into account community feedback in the process. The clear distinction between actions and projects to be delivered in either the short, medium or longer term provides proper insight to operators like us as well as customers and taxpayers – they know that not everything can or should be delivered in the next year but providing a clear timeline will help with their assessment. The clear framework in the plan should encourage consistency and enhance accountability. It is encouraging that the plan both sets the direction for the next two decades but also shines light on the path for the next few years and makes clear that sectoral and other plans will provide further detail. We agree with the government about the key themes: 1. putting our customers first; 2. integrate, modernise, grow and manage; and 3. integrated planning across modes and the network. These themes reflect what customers and transport authorities have said to us both here and in other countries1. The primary focus on customer needs is the most important development in recent years in transport planning and will help ensure that the plan delivers where it is needed most. We support the initiatives in the LTTMP, particularly those that are listed as integrating modes to meet customer needs, such as the Opal and improvements to wayfinding signage. We are ready to assist with the Opal rollout when it commences on ferries later this year and we will be able to provide our expertise regarding signage gathered as an operator both here and overseas. Also, the projects identified to get Sydney moving again are the right projects for the times ahead. We will pick up a few of those projects in more detail below. Likewise the issues discussed and the projects proposed in the context of Sustaining Growth in Greater Sydney, are appropriate and fundamental to fixing Sydney’s transport issues. It is refreshing to see a transport plan that identifies those difficult choices that must be made in the context of planning for the growth of a global city. It is clear from the State Infrastructure Strategy, released on 3 October, that there are divergent views amongst government agencies about the precise projects needed to address common issues. It is a healthy sign that such differences are aired publicly. If we have a criticism of the draft LTTMP, it is that it should have been bolder in some areas, in particular regarding a world class light rail network for Sydney. We touch on this below and trust that as the draft becomes final, this ‘boldness’ will win out. With such a detailed draft we could have provided comments and some insight into many areas. However we have chosen to focus on a few key issues about which we feel the most passionate and think we have something useful to add, namely light rail, the need for a second harbour crossing and the need for greater private sector involvement in the delivery of public transport. But first we provide some background to Veolia Transdev to give some context to our comments. 1 Veolia Transdev, 2011, Today’s Challenges for Tomorrow’s Mobility 2011 Survey Results VTDA: Submission in response to the Draft NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan 2 ABOUT VEOLIA TRANSDEV AUSTRALASIA Veolia Transdev Australasia (VTDA) is a leading passenger transport company. We have a team of more than 3,600 employees working on our train, bus, coach, ferry, light rail and monorail transport services across Australia and New Zealand. With our partners in local government, public authorities and private companies, we deliver over 85 million passenger journeys every year on around 1,300 vehicles and vessels. Globally, Veolia Transdev is a world leader in the operation of passenger transport services. Operating in more than 25 countries, it has 102,000 employees worldwide, manages more than 60,000 vehicles and vessels and delivers 3.3 billion trips a year. Veolia Transdev was formed in 2011 following a merger between Veolia Transport and Transdev. VTDA Vision To be Australasia’s acknowledged passenger transport leader. VTDA Mission Delivering high quality passenger transport services in partnership with stakeholders. VTDA Values . Safety . Commitment . Partnership . Passion . Performance A key operator in NSW In NSW alone, Veolia Transdev operates: buses in regions 10, 11, 12 and 13; the light rail and monorail; and ferries (via Harbour City Ferries, its joint venture with Transfield Services). We have more than 1,500 employees working in these businesses delivering services to communities in the north, central, south and south west of the city and we have been a proud partner to government for over a decade. VTDA: Submission in response to the Draft NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan 3 FOCUS ON LIGHT RAIL There has been a great deal of discussion about the future of light rail ever since the current light rail service commenced in 1997. The original route was extended to Lilyfield in 2000 and is now being extended again to Dulwich Hill. The current system, operated by Veolia Transdev under contract to the NSW Government-owned MTS, performs well but is not fully integrated into the wider public transport network of Sydney. Benefits Based on Veolia Transdev’s extensive light rail experience we argue there are many benefits to be gained by having a light rail network, including: . Makes it easy to connect to other services/modes - high-frequency works alongside other modes, fills the gap between bus and heavy rail; . Light rail carries more passengers than articulated bus (200 -300 people vs approx 90 people); . Provides a comfortable journey; . It is one of the most sustainable modes of transport – mitigates greenhouse gases compared with other modes and produces less noise; . It reduces congestion in cities, improving access to major destinations and event venues; . It leads to increased tourism and mobility in city-centre and inner suburb areas. People from Sydney will recall that Ultimo and Pyrmont were once a wasteland - the introduction of the light rail and monorail was a catalyst for enormous change in the area; . If done well, light rail adds to the visual appeal of a city (e.g. Reims, see right) and integrates well into high density such as pedestrian malls; . It enhances accessibility (stations at grade), legibility and the fact that customers visually recognise where they are on a light rail system gives enormous confidence to customers and makes light rail systems easy to use; and . Finally, in almost all instances that Veolia Transdev has been involved in, it has delivered patronage growth far in excess of patronage forecasts. Challenges But of course there are challenges to deliver these benefits, including: . It needs to be well planned; . Capital costs vary, but can range between $30-$100 million per km including rolling stock. Where tunnelling is required then these costs will be higher; . Because of the interaction with the environment and many interested parties the stakeholder management task is significantly more challenging than for any other transport mode. This task is critical during the construction phase when there can be significant impacts on local communities and then becomes an educational task as operation of the system approaches; . Getting the commercial delivery model and the design of the system right is key– evidence from many places around the world shows that getting this right is critical to the success of light rail systems; . Managing the ‘apparent’ divergent interests of car users and the light rail system – the most obvious balance to be struck is the extent to which signal priority is given at signalled intersections, and . Finally, light rail is a unique and different mode of public transport than bus, heavy rail or metro – as such Government must ensure that it has the necessary expertise to manage such projects and also that it works with the private sector providers like Veolia Transdev, who bring the international expertise and local understanding to make the extension of light rail in Sydney a success. VTDA: Submission in response to the Draft NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan 4 As noted above, the much anticipated 20 year State Infrastructure Strategy - First things first, was released by Infrastructure NSW (INSW) on Wednesday 3 October. Among other recommendations the strategy recommends that the Government not build light rail down George St but instead build a busway underground from the Harbour Bridge to Wynyard. The SIS does however recommend light rail to the University of NSW (Central to Moore Park and UNSW via Anzac Parade). The SIS’ recommendations have been provided to the NSW Government for its consideration in developing plans for infrastructure investment and we all await the Government’s formal response. Our recommendations It is critical to consider the following light rail design principles, which impact the customer experience, the affordability and the operability of the system: .