Public Transport Users Association

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The Public Transport Users Association, founded in 1976 as the Train Travellers Association, is a community-based public transport lobby group in Victoria, Australia, based in Melbourne. It became prominent after the controversial Lonie Report recommended huge freeway expansion and closure of most public passenger transport.

The Association supports a greater role for public transport and less dependence on the private car.

Key PTUA policies include:

A public transport planning authority to provide co-ordinated planning of train, tram and bus services
More frequent services, longer operating hours and better connections between modes
Expansion of the train, tram, and bus networks
Urban planning, taxation and transport project resource allocations that do not favour car use over public transport
Reduced reliance on and building of new freeways
More staffing at stations and on trains/trams
Fares that ensure public transport is competitive with car travel

Of particular interest to the Association are potential extensions to Melbourne's metropolitan rail network (including railway lines to Doncaster and Rowville (via Monash University's Clayton Campus) and an overhaul of the bus network, including more routes being upgraded to SmartBus status.^[1]

The PTUA successfully lobbied^[2] for extended New Years Day public transport hours in 2004, a success that was repeated in 2005, 2006 and 2007. It maintains a high media profile, publishes a newsletter for members and operates an office in Melbourne and several local branches.

The current President is Daniel Bowen.