[Greens-Media] Transitway struggle shows Carr Govt on wrong track

[Hans VanLeeuwen]

Transitway struggle shows Carr Govt on wrong track
Media release - December 1, 2004

Roads Minister Carl Scully and Transport Minister Michael Costa should
admit defeat in their campaign against light rail in Western Sydney,
following fresh evidence of the failure of the Liverpool-to-Parramatta
Bus Transitway.
 
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said: "Today's report from the Auditor-General
sadly confirms predictions I made in 2000 that bus transitways were not
the best option for Western Sydney.
 
"The Auditor-General confirms that patronage predictions touted by the
Government were based on an optimistic fantasy, and that there was never
a comprehensive plan to actually get this Transitway to work.
 
"The Greens said four years ago that the case for the Transitway was
based on bogus evidence, but Carl Scully's fanaticism made him deaf to
reason.
 
"Michael Costa should learn his lesson and give the people of Western
Sydney real transport solutions, not expensive and unwanted Busway
projects like this one.
 
"The Transitway was clearly an attempt to do as little as possible while
still claiming to be improving public transport in Sydney's west.
 
"It hasn't worked, and Mr Costa should go back to the drawing board.
It's not too late to salvage something from this project.
 
"The Government should turn the Transitway into a light rail corridor.
People would actually use it, it would be cleaner and more efficient,"
Ms Rhiannon said.


Hans van Leeuwen
Media Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon
Tel: (61 2) 9230 3551
Fax: (61 2) 9230 3550
Mob: 0425 310 562
hans.vanleeuwen at parliament.nsw.gov.au