Choosing to take public transport should be every Western Australian's first choice to get around, particularly in Perth and regional urban centres, which is why the Greens are proposing to make public transport free for all.
Last year's Summer of Free Public Transport lead to a 42% increase in public transport use, taking pressure off our roads and people's hip pockets at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet.
The Green's plan would see a full time worker in Perth save around $46 a week, or $2,246 a year[1], but cost the State Government just $778 million in revenue over the forward estimates[2], based on current usage.
Taking into account WA Labor's commitment to cap fares at $2.80, the average full-time worker would still save $28 a week, or $1,344 a year. The total cost would drop significantly to $446 million over the forward estimates.
In the next Parliament, the Greens will also push for a commitment to building mid-tier transit in Perth's central suburbs, filling in the gaps between our existing rail networks.
The Greens' plan proposes 31km of mid-tier transit services along two new routes.
The first, known as the 'Knowledge Arc', connecting UWA to Curtin University has been well developed from a planning perspective over the last 15 years but remains unrealised by consecutive state governments. Light rail along this route would cost $1.3 billion while lower-cost trackless tram services could be completed for $420 million.
Light rail along the second new route between Fremantle Station and Murdoch University could be completed for $500 million while trackless tram services could be completed for $200 million.
Finally, the Greens will push for improved public transport frequency and timetable improvements to bus services to the Perth hills. Public transport services that only run a couple of times a day and finish at 6pm are not good enough.
All of this could be easily funded by redirecting part of Western Australia's enormous infrastructure budget for major road projects which totals more than $9 billion over the forward estimates[3].
As stated by WA Greens MLC Dr Brad Pettitt:
"In a wealthy state like Western Australia everyone should be able to afford the basics, which is why the Greens are calling for the Summer of Free Public Transport to become a reality all year round.
"Nationally, there is a shift to reduce the cost of public transport for all which we acknowledge and support. Queensland's recent shift to 50c fares has been proven to be a huge success reducing traffic and emissions, massively increasing ridership on public transport, and saving Queenslanders millions.
"Taking into account the summer of free public transport and the recently announced free transport Sundays, Western Australian commuters will already get 97 days of free public transport in 2025.
"If you're a school student then, but for a few weeks of school holidays, you can travel on public transport for free for practically the whole year.
"Investing in free and frequent public transport is a transformative way to make Perth much less car-dependent and much more sustainable as our population grows into the future. It will also save the average Perth commuter more than $46 per week or $2,246 a year.
"More compact cities require up to 40% less transport energy to operate and can save similar amounts of carbon dioxide emissions from urban transport[4]; incentivising public transport use is one of the best ways we can reduce the carbon footprint of our cities and regional centres.
"If Perth is serious about stopping urban sprawl and building good density infill then we need to invest in high quality public transport where we actually want most people to live!
"With most Metronet projects wrapping up in 2025, it is time to urgently switch our focus from outer-suburban train stations that encourage more urban sprawl to inner-suburban light rail that can transform Perth into a better connected, more liveable and sustainable city.
"All of the mainland states in Australia have light rail and we have seen how the positive impact it has had on their cities. I am looking forward to Perth getting on board too.
"With multi-billion dollar surpluses over each of the last state budgets and an obscene budget on new roads, it is time we shift our thinking and invest in long-term solutions to make our communities more liveable while providing much-needed cost of living relief."
