How to improve Adelaide Metro?

People are no doubt aware that there are various problems with Public Transport in our state, much of the infrastructure is ageing and its not being expanded as it could be and was done under Don Dunstan. Rather than harp on that issue, I would like to take constructive criticism of what can actually be done both at low cost and higher cost to actually fix some of the problems and increase patronage accordingly.

Lower Cost ideas,

1, End Peak Hour Travel Priced tickets for weekend travel, we are the only state that has the Peak Ticket Price for Weekend Travel, its stingy and makes it expensive for people to use for weekend events.

2, When an event is on in the city like Womad or a Football Game or whatever, do not use the once hourly timetable! Switch to what you might do on a Saturday or simply run the trains / buses on selected routes every 15mins / half hour around the time of the start and finish of the event. At the same time don't use the standard two car train sets, put on a three or even a four to run the network as was done for the Clipsal at the same time making use of the Articulated Buses for the same reason.

3, They had Free Travel to the Clipsal and it was packed, a good use was made of the service for something we all pay taxes towards! Increase the events that get Free Travel with a Ticket to that event such as the Football at West Lakes or to Music Festivals / concerts and so on.

Higher Cost Ideas,

1, Bus Lanes, if we are going to be 90% Bus Transit in Public Transport then pay the money and install proper Bus Lanes and Priority Bus lights at the Intersection. If people are to catch an express bus from Woodcroft to the City its not unreasonable to suggest that the travel time should be less than a car trip, for the few seconds it takes to get the bus away it gives people a reason to use it.

2, Overhaul ticket prices, They claim that its less than the cost of running the car, yet most Adelaide Metro ticket holders still have to own a car and bus tickets cost more than Petrol in many instances. It should be cheaper to take a bus, yet at $4.70 for a single trip its not getting there.

3, Pay the money, fix the Adelaide Railway Station to be on a loop, block off North Terrace, trench it out, build the subway underneath and cap the road over it as was done in New York. Loop around or use it go to through to Tea Tree Plaza and replace the Obahn.

Have plenty more but will leave it there for someone else to have a few thoughts!

Certainly time to increase the tram lines around metropolitan Adelaide, for environmental reasons as much as anything. Extending the tramline down the middle of Port Road through to Port Adelaide was talked about under the Rann government, but not sure where this sits in Jay Weatherill's plans. There has been talk about sending the tram on a loop up West Terrace and down Grote Street, back to meet the station on the corner of Victoria Square and Grote Street, and this should be a priority for the government, IMHO.

Can then look at - space notwithstanding - extending it easterly to Norwood/Magill etc, but this will really depend on where it can be accomodated most effectively.

Bring back the tram lines! All of them!

Bring the Public Transport system back under public (government) control.