[Melb] Cars give way to trams

["DL" <D_Lindstrom@Bigpond.com>]

Cars give way to trams

http://www.theage.com.au/news/2001/04/02/FFX3HGCOZKC.html

By SALLY FINLAY
Monday 2 April 2001

A plan to reduce car parking in city streets to make way for tram "super
stops" is likely to be backed by the Melbourne City Council, even though a
council report has estimated it will cost it $460,000 a year in lost parking
fees.

The council's planning committee will tonight consider the plan by Yarra
Trams to introduce 50-metre-by-three-metre tram stops on routes 109, 86 and
96.

Traffic would be reduced to one lane alongside the stops. Work on the first
stop would begin in Collins Street this month. Other stops are planned in
Bourke Street.

The tram stops would replace 71 metered car parking spaces in Collins
Street.

A council report has estimated this means $375,000 a year in lost parking
revenue.

Bourke Street will lose 20 metered spaces, at a cost of $85,000 a year when
routes 86 and 96 are re-vamped.

The "super stops" will include ticket vending machines, timetable
information and seats. Advertising space will be sold on the sides of
shelters. The revenue from these ads will go to Yarra Trams.

The plans have been welcomed by the Collins Street Precinct Association,
which sees them as an opportunity for the council to better promote its City
Square car park.

Association president Don Parsons said the City Square carpark, which has
been open for 12 months, was "desperately underutilised".

He said parking stations were safer, with comparable rates to on-street
parking, and could encourage people to shop for longer without fear of
parking fines.

"We don't see it as a great negative for the city," said Mr Parsons. "These
new trams and a better tram service will bring in more people on foot."

The chairman of the council's planning committee, Kevin Chamberlin, said
that while the council acknowledged it would lose revenue and street car
parking, the project was good for Melbourne.

"We have talked about better and safer transport, access to all, and
improved timetabling," he said.

"Now, finally, it is happening, and we should embrace it. It will bring more
people into the city."

The council will discuss compensation for lost parking revenue with Yarra
Trams and the State Government, he said.

The first of six new stops in Collins Street - three fewer than now - is
planned for the end of the month. It will be near the corner of Spencer and
Collins Streets.

A report on parking at Yarra Park, next to the Melbourne Cricket Ground,
will be discussed at Tuesday night's environment committee meeting. Since
1998 the number of parking spaces has fallen from 6200 to 5700. An agreement
between the council and the State Government expires in 2005.



--
Regards,
David Lindstrom