7.3 Greater Integration

Improved facilities in and around public transport infrastructure:

• More bus shelters and seating would not only improve the public transport experience, but also neighbourhood experience. • Greater connectivity to bus stops will provide improved experience for most users and provide critical minimum requirements for some disadvantaged users. • Should be incorporated into other planning (i.e. shared trails). • Two streams of desire, one is to enhance and improve, the other is to look for the bare minimum for accessibility. Each should be approached differently.

Better communication and ticketing:

• Traditional social media and newsletter notices should be supplemented with other forms of communication, as there is low awareness of the existing transport options within the community. This could reduce the friction involved in choosing public transport. • Other forms of offline communications include posters and brochures that are distributed across

Golden pLains, including post offices, community centres, and bookshops. Frankston Council provides brochure to residents about options for non-drivers or those transitioning away from driving. • There is no single source of information for public transport, community transport and other associated information. A centralised and up-to-date website or location with transport specific information (i.e. ticketing outlets – including opening hours) could address this gap.

Infrastructure improvements and co-location:

• Mobility hub creation • A mobility hub is a location for switching modes of transport that can be formally or informally integrated around amenities, such as community halls, shops, village squares. Common elements include parking areas for cars and bikes, pick-up and drop-off areas for buses, taxis and carpooling, sheltered waiting areas and cafés. • The mobility hub concept could be feasible in townships with higher density activity areas, such as Bannockburn, Smythesdale, Linton, Teesdale. However, there is also demand is for this type of service in the smaller townships or new areas with very little transport options, but they can be harder to service. Residents are interested in this type of service as they currently have to travel out of their townships in order to reach others, however, these areas often lack development and growth. • The development of an intermodal transport hub in Bannockburn for public and active transport has been detailed in the Bannockburn Growth Plan 2020-2040. • Infrastructure additions could include: • Bicycle parking at bus stops and more bicycle parking generally. • Improved hard-stands and waiting areas. • More taxi ranks in busy areas. • Mobility device (larger devices) parking. • Additional car parking at bus stops (low patronage and parking rates suggest this is low

priority).

Expand partnerships and co-funding:

• Reduce siloed-transport budgets and assets and instead partner with other public and private organisations with relevant skills and capacity, such as other Councils or transport providers with relevant skills. This could also improve the ability to service residents at the border of two

Council areas.

• Social clubs and non-Council services of all types could benefit from Council support in seeking grants or assistance with funding or assets (i.e. golf clubs, tourism and recreation locations). • International cases studies provide several approaches to better partnerships and co-funding: Introducing common vehicle standards to all service contracts would remove many of the legal barriers to co-ordinated delivery across general public transport, education and health services. Innovative funding: 1. Cross-subsidisation from urban to rural area, for example through larger tenders, including both urban and rural areas. 2. Cross-sectoral funding involving education, health services and local businesses (e.g. local sponsorship for community transport, already common in Europe). Make regulations more flexible to allow for the development of innovative, cost-effective mobility solutions: Operators of a greater variety of mobility solutions should be given legal status as public transport service providers, in order to benefit equitably from subsidies or tax deductions. Specifically, tender and operator licensing requirements should be adapted to allow the following to bid for public service contracts in rural areas: local taxi, demand-responsive and community transport providers.

8. Transport Opportunity

Shortlist

The opportunity shortlist is a set of actions that will enable Council to achieve the vision of improved transport connectivity and accessibility, which will facilitate higher living standards, economic prosperity and social inclusivity for the community. In partnership with Council, the following 5 opportunities were shortlisted. These opportunities should empower Council to take local action, advocate with State Government level, or seek partnerships and funding in order to implement appropriate solutions for the benefit of residents.