Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand

The July edition of PTAANZ's newsletter is out now: https://lnkd.in/gDuR8s6U] Read about all the exciting adventures PTAANZ Chief Executive Lauren Streifer has been on since her return from parental leave at the end of May, get updates from our members and hear what we have in store for our members and stakeholders, including the inside scoop on our Annual Conference and Gala Dinner, to be held in Sydney on 23 October. #PublicTransport #PTAANZ #newsletter #InspireCuriousMinds

PTAANZ was delighted to host a roundtable lunch with urban mobility design expert Yo Kaminagai, in partnership with RATP Dev Australia and co-hosted by Natalie Reiter, Deputy Secretary Strategy and Precincts, Department of Transport and Planning, and PTAANZ Chief Executive Lauren Streifer, for our members and guests in Melbourne on 4 July. Yo shared thought-provoking insights from his renowned career as Head of Design in RATPgroup’s Project Management Delivery department, which included transformational train, tram, and bus projects in Paris and its environs. Yo showed how precinct design and a customer-centric mindset can create a network of places, rather than a network of lines. Big thanks to RATP Dev Australia's Denis Masure, General Manager, and Lys TRIN, Customer Experience Coordinator, for making this inspiring event possible. If you think your organisation's thought leaders have knowledge that should be shared with PTAANZ's network, please contact our Events team at events@ptaanz.org #PTAANZ #PublicTransport #Paris #UrbanDesign #CustomerExperience #wayfinding #StationDesign #PlaceMaking #ServiceDesign #InspireCuriousMinds

This week in PTAANZ’s #TopTransportNews – New Zealand is making a historic investment in public transport. The government has committed to increasing funding for bus and train services by a record 41% compared to the 2021-2024 period. Transport Minister Simeon Brown highlighted this unprecedented investment aimed at providing more travel choices and reliable services for New Zealanders. “This government is committed to supporting public transport to provide more travel choices for New Zealanders,” he says. The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Board confirmed this funding boost from the National Land Transport Fund, ensuring improved public transport services across the country. Additionally, the National Ticketing Solution (NTS) will be rolled out, starting with Auckland this year, Christchurch in early 2025, and all regions by the end of 2026. The NTS will enable contactless debit and credit card payments, making public transport more convenient and accessible. This system supports various payment methods, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, alongside pre-paid transit cards. This significant investment underscores the government’s dedication to enhancing public transport services and technology, ensuring New Zealanders have reliable and efficient travel options. You can read more here - https://bit.ly/45VU4i8 #PTAANZ #PublicTransport #Innovation #NewZealand #Sustainability #TransportInvestment #NationalTicketingSystem

 🚍✨ Enhancing the Customer Experience in Public Transport: Insights from the PTAANZ Mode Shift Symposium ✨🚍 Understanding and working to improve the customer experience will encourage mode shift towards public transport and more sustainable mobility, which in turn will support overall efforts to decarbonise the transport industry.  The two-day Mode Shift Symposium held in Brisbane gave us a plethora of valuable insights on what’s important to customers to get them on public transport and keep them there.  Here are some key takeaways from the two days: 🌟 Customer-Centric Design: Ensuring public transport is designed with the passenger in mind – public transport needs to be accessible, reliable, and convenient to meet the diverse needs of all users.   🌟 Improving Accessibility: Making transport systems more inclusive –  accessibility means ensuring that everyone, including those with disabilities, can use public transport without barriers.   🌟 Comfort and Cleanliness: Prioritising the comfort and cleanliness of transport vehicles and facilities. A clean, comfortable environment encourages more people to choose public transport over personal vehicles.   🌟 Safety: Enhancing safety on public transport to build trust among passengers – increased safety measures, such as better lighting and well-frequented infrastructure, can make passengers feel more secure and likely to use public transport.   🌟 Community Engagement: Involving the community in transport planning and decision-making – community engagement ensures that public transport services meet the real needs of the population and fosters a sense of ownership and pride.  Enhancing the customer experience in public transport requires a holistic approach that prioritises comfort, safety, accessibility, and real-time communication. By putting the customer at the heart of our decisions, we can create a more attractive and user-friendly public transport system. #PTAANZ #PublicTransport #AustraliaNewZealand #ModeShift #CustomerExperience #UrbanMobility #TransportInnovation #Collaboration #Accessibility #Safety Image: Symposium delegates on a technical tour of Brisbane Metro

A message from PTAANZ's friends at Austroads: Austroads is hosting a webinar with Estelle Grech to share key insights from her Churchill Fellowship where she travelled to 14 cities around the globe to research how to design cities for women in girls. Join the session on Tuesday 9 July at 1 pm AEST. No charge but registration is essential. Can’t make the live session? Register and we’ll send you a link to the recording. Register at https://lnkd.in/g3JjEuHQ

This week in PTAANZ’s #TopTransportNews, the recent overhaul of Palmerston North and Ashhurst's bus network in New Zealand is driving a public transport renaissance. PTAANZ is excited to report how these changes are making a significant impact on ridership, with more people jumping on these buses than ever before.   Horizons Regional Council launched the new bus network in early March, replacing the old routes with faster, more frequent, and user-friendly lines, doubling the number of weekly services. The results are impressive: March, April, and May have seen significant patronage increases compared to the same months last year, with April experiencing a 54% rise and May 32%.  Transport Services Manager Mark Read reports that weekend patronage is up 92% across the network, with Ashhurst seeing a remarkable 309% weekend increase. “We are seeing increased patronage every day of the week.”     With buses running every 30 minutes from 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM daily, and every 15 minutes during peak times, passengers are enjoying more travel options and better service. Real-time displays are also being installed to keep riders informed. Frequency and reliability are one of the core pillars of providing a public transport network that drives positive outcomes for the customer experience.   You can read more here -  https://bit.ly/4cD3z87   #PTAANZ #PublicTransport #Innovation #NewZealand #PalmerstonNorth #Ashhurst #BusNetwork #Sustainability #TransportInnovation #CustomerExperience 

🎙️ Join us on the latest Women Who Move Nations podcast episode featuring the Hon. Minister Williams MP, Victoria's Minister for Public Transport and Active Modes. Proudly sponsored by NEC Australia, Minister Williams delves into her inspiring journey with host Michelle Batsas, from the legal profession to becoming a pivotal figure in shaping Victoria's public transport landscape.     🏛️ From Legal to Leader: Minister Williams shares how her legal background equipped her with the skills to navigate the complex world of public policy and lead transformative projects     🚇 Tunnels and More: Discover the inside story of the Metro Tunnel project, designed to alleviate congestion and improve connectivity, and learn about Minister Williams' efforts to cap fares to make commuting more affordable.     ⚖️ Championing Gender-Responsive Policies: Hear about Minister Williams’ advocacy for integrating gender considerations into transport planning, ensuring that policies are inclusive and equitable.     💪 Personal Resilience: Minister Williams opens up about the challenges she faced balancing her high-profile role with personal struggles on her journey to create a family, highlighting the importance of supportive networks and workplace accommodations.     🚌 Future of Public Transport: Minister Williams also discusses the role of e-scooters and other innovations in making Melbourne's transport system more accessible and user-friendly.     Don’t miss this insightful episode where personal experiences meet policy-making, shaping a more inclusive future for public transport.     🔗 Listen to the episode here -    Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3L11Bmg   Apple: https://apple.co/3KYgm9g      #PublicTransport #Leadership #PolicyMaking #GenderEquality #Innovation  

Decarbonising transport plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and meeting net zero targets. Without intervention, the transport sector is projected to be Australia’s largest source of emissions by 2030. United by their shared commitment to addressing this challenge, the Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand, Roads Australia and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), with support from global sustainable development consultancy Arup, brought together over 40 senior government and industry leaders representing the nation’s transport sector for a National Decarbonising Transport Summit in Canberra today.    This interactive Summit explored how Australia’s governments can work with industry to reduce barriers to implementation, build capability across the supply chain and ensure national consistency across procurement, data collection and performance reporting.    The outcomes of today’s Summit will be collated into a joint response to the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap and identify priority actions for the sector to take forward collectively.    Read more in The Australian: https://lnkd.in/gMeQU6C6   #NetZero #DecarbonisingTransport #IndustryCollaboration #ChampionTheFuture #PTAANZ #PublicTransport

In this week’s PTAANZ #TopTransportNews, New Zealand’s new ticketing payment system, Motu Move, aims to enhance convenience for passengers and encourage public transport use across the nation.  New Zealand's National Ticketing Solution (NTS), in partnership with the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and 13 regional Public Transport Authorities, will introduce contactless debit or credit cards, digital payment methods, and Motu Move cards for public transport rolling out in Canterbury this December. Supplier, Cubic Transportation Systems, has been preparing and testing the NTS to ensure a seamless experience. Dino Beverakis, Vice President of Cubic Transport, highlights how these new payment options will simplify public transport use and improve the customer experience.  “The new payment options will remove barriers to public transport use for those who don’t currently carry a prepaid card or who travel in different regions,” Beverakis says. “It will also make using public transport easier for visitors and first-time users as they won’t need to worry about buying a separate prepaid card.” PTAANZ is thrilled to see how these initiatives will benefit passengers, making public transport more accessible and user-friendly. You can read more here - https://bit.ly/3RIlrGG  #PTAANZ #PublicTransport #Innovation #NewZealand #MotuMove #ContactlessPayments #Sustainability #TransportInnovation 

🚆🌍 Encouraging Mode Shift to Public Transport: Key Insights from the PTAANZ Mode Shift Symposium 🌍🚆 We’ve been reflecting on last month’s Mode Shift Symposium in Brisbane and are excited to share some valuable insights from the presentations and conversations held.  Day 1 of the Symposium kicked off with a video message from Hon Bart Mellish MP, Queensland's Minister for Transport and Main Roads, followed by the international keynote presentation from Geoff Hobbs, Director of Public Transport Service Planning at Transport for London.  The day also featured panel discussions on network reform, optimising the legacy benefits of transport investments and a customer experience deep dive, as well as presentations on integrated mode shift and a case study on Brisbane’s preparation for the 2032 Olympic Games.  Key insights from Day 1 include:  1. Seamless Integration and Reliability: Services that are consistent and dependable will greatly enhance customer satisfaction, and journey times for public transport should strive to be competitive with cars. 2. The importance of understanding the Whole Journey: It’s crucial to consider the entire customer journey, not just the time spent on mode. The customer journey mapping needs to start at the point in time where people are waiting for something to step onto.  3. Real-time Information: Providing real-time updates to customers is crucial. Information should be totally seamless and contribute to the overall customer experience by providing dependability and the confidence to travel.  4. Create a Compelling Product: Encouraging mode shift isn’t about demonising private vehicle use. Public transport should compete with the convenience of personal vehicles for passengers with that option and provide an equitable service for those without.  In-depth discussions were held around the criticality of public transport safety and security and highlighted key measures, including increased staffing presence and better lighting that make a difference to the perception of safety.  Additionally, inclusive design that improves physical accessibility is vital, as well as increasing access to key activity hubs, health, education, and employment via public transport.  Presenters and participants discussed urban planning that prioritises public transport and reduces dependence on cars, which can lead to more liveable and sustainable cities. Policies that encourage the use of public transport through incentives and better infrastructure are crucial.  Improving the customer experience in public transport requires a comprehensive approach, focusing on reliability, safety, accessibility, and leveraging technology. We can create more enjoyable and efficient public transport systems by putting the customer at the heart of our decisions. #PTAANZ #ModeShift #CustomerExperience #PublicTransport