Advocating the development of public transit within
South Australia’s transport network

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION
Formerly Australian Electric Traction Association- South Australian Division
 
ESTABLISHED 2016
 
Advocating the Development of Public Transit within South Australia’s Transport Network
President: (Mr) D.J. Beres
 
Internet: www.electrictraction.org.au  
Home Phone 08-8266-6115 or 0438 600 202
Email address: Saptasa2016@gmail.com
Check out our Facebook page: Friends of the South Australian Public Transit Assoication
 
1 March  2017

The South Australian Public Transport Association (SAPTA) commends the State Government for being aware that O-Bahn Interchanges need an urgent upgrade (Leader Messenger All aboard upgrades February 1 2017).
 
However, some of our members have been writing to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Mr Stephen Mullighan about the urgent need to install wind breaks at Paradise Interchange which is nick named by commuters as the Antarctic of the North East.  When a cold wind comes across the interchange in wintertime it is like a wind tunnel.
 
 Mr Mullighan chose to ignore the comfort of passengers by claiming there are more walking and park and ride users to that Interchange and the percentage of changing from one bus to another is very low so it is not a priority to install windbreaks at that interchange.  However, what about those who walk or park their cars at the interchange don’t they deserve also these comforts?
 
When the interchange was opened in 1986, it served its purpose as a modern day interchange for its era. However since then the South Eastern Busway in Brisbane has shown how modern an interchange can become with lifts, and stairs and walkways that passengers can access from one side to another and wind breaks installed at all South East Busway stops!
 
SAPTA hopes that the government also invests in more car parking spaces or build a multi-storey car park (similar to the one at Tea Tree Plaza) at Paradise and Klemzig interchanges because it should be thinking of the long term and not on the short term or electoral cycles when it plans improvements to current O-Bahn infrastructure.
 
It should be noted that the O-Bahn from City to Paradise last year celebrated 30 years and the Paradise to Tea Tree Plaza in 2019 celebrates 30 years also but Klemzig, Paradise and Tea Tree Plaza all need improvements and not just installing television screens showing real time information or a coat of paint.
 
All these interchanges are prime candidates for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) but it seems to be that whilst the SA Government is supporting TOD’s the local NIMBY community and councils seem to be against any TOD.
 
David Beres
President
SAPTA
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