Connecting communities far and wide, the evolving priorities of the public transport sector across Australia and New Zealand increasingly centre around creating a better passenger experience, emerging next-generation technologies, and moving towards net zero operations.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC TRANSPORT SPOTLIGHT
An efficient public transport system is the lifeblood of any streamlined populous, facilitating vital connections across both metropolitan hubs and local communities.
This is particularly the case across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), where populations are concentrated in major cities, creating high densities of people in smaller, more constrained areas.
This, in turn, makes organised and effective public transport infrastructure more important than ever, especially as ridership on trains and buses across the region continues to rise.
Correlating with the increasing levels of passengers in recent years is a greater effort towards sustainable transport and the lowering of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Given the transport sector is the third-largest emitter in Australia, accounting for 22 percent of its emissions, and is responsible for 17 percent of gross domestic emissions in New Zealand (NZ), increasing access to dependable public transport is key to reducing these levels.
Transitioning vehicle fleets and creating new transport services forms only part of what is needed. A focus on mode shift – changing the way in which people travel, and accounting for that change in carbon budgets – will also be required.
For example, 35 percent of Australian passenger kilometres are travelled in cars, which is a huge opportunity for the sector.
Governments across ANZ are already prioritising moving more sustainably as a way to future-proof the sector.
Both federal jurisdictions are introducing measures to cut carbon emissions, whilst state governments are implementing individual policies in their own areas towards this target.
For instance, the New South Wales (NSW) government introduced the Zero Emission Buses programme earlier this year, which aims to convert the state’s 8,000+ buses to zero-emissions technology, with the long-term goal of achieving net zero by 2050.
Similarly, through its emissions reduction pledges, the Victoria government has made a concerted effort to ensure that all new public transport bus purchases are zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs).
The move to sustainable public transport infrastructure goes hand-in-hand with the adoption of next-generation technologies.
A recent notable example is the implementation of NZ’s first large-scale gantry charging system at Kinetic’s Glenfield depot in Auckland as part of a collaboration between the bus services provider and Auckland Transport.
With this development comes the roll-out of 31 new ZEVs amongst the bus fleet, further demonstrating a growing awareness of the positive impact public transport can have on carbon emissions.
The region is also seeing greater prioritisation of active mobility, shown through increased investment in walking and cycling infrastructure. For example, Transport for NSW is building a new step-free cycle route on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, which already sees more than 2,000 bike trips a day – those numbers are expected to skyrocket when the cycleway opens.
The public transport system across ANZ is therefore forging a clear path for accessible and sustainable mobility using innovative technologies and a forward-thinking approach.
Q&A WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND
Heralding a 20-year legacy, Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand is the premier peak industry body for public transport and sustainable mobility solutions across ANZ. Lauren Streifer, Chief Executive, highlights how the association is prioritising net zero targets and a community-focused approach.
Firstly, could you outline the origins of Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand and its founding mission?
Lauren Streifer, Chief Executive (LS): Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand (PTAANZ) started more than two decades ago when all the public transport authorities across ANZ decided there should be a voice for public and active transport across the region.
They thought it was important to have a standalone body that represented the interests of our communities, and they recognised that collaboration amongst the jurisdictions was really important, as well as international collaboration.
How has the realm of mass transit and sustainable mobility evolved and developed since the association’s inception?
LS: A lot has changed since PTAANZ was founded, even in the last two years since I took on the role.
If you look at the forward estimates and where investment is going, there’s been a clear shift across ANZ into public and active transport and towards the transition to net zero requirements, which has led to a huge change in where money is going across the region.
There’s also been a big uplift in attention on public and active transport, which is really exciting to see, with a lot of the projects we’ve invested in now being operationalised.
The second stage of the Sydney Metro opened last year, and Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel has just opened too. We’re also about to see Cross River Rail launch in Brisbane and City Rail Link in Auckland, alongside countless other major projects, including METRONET in Western Australia.
So, a lot of our regions are about to experience many of the things we’ve been talking about for a long time, and I’m really excited to see how citizens will live and breathe these things day-to-day and how the way they move will be transformed.
The other thing I’m really excited about is leaders who are increasingly trying to reimagine and design our cities for people, not just cars – that’s a big change for ANZ.
We have very car-dependent cities, but if you go to Sydney, for instance, they increasingly have a very public transport-first ethos. We can replicate that and do more with what we have, which often looks like active and public transport that is better for the community.
Another thing that’s really changed, particularly in the past few years, is the increasing focus on the housing crisis and how we provide more accommodation close to access and amenity, especially as populations are growing significantly – for example, Melbourne will become the size of London today within 20 years. We must have public transport investment and attention match our population increases.
With that, you need world-class transport and connectivity, which means changing the way you design, plan, and invest in your cities, then looking at how you develop your public transport network around that. It’s been a huge change and exciting to be at the epicentre of it all.
“The other thing I’m really excited about is leaders who are increasingly trying to reimagine and design our cities for people, not just cars – that’s a big change for ANZ”
Lauren Streifer, Chief Executive, Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand
How does PTAANZ partner with its private member organisations to sustain world-class public transport and meet the needs of the local communities that it serves?
LS: Our association started with the major public transport authorities, which were supported by global and local operators. This meant we had a public service and community-focused vision, but in order to achieve that, you need a vibrant private sector delivering for communities too.
Our membership consists of world-class operators from around the globe, operating in cities like New York, Paris, and London. At the same time, you also have small, mom-and-pop operators in local towns that are delivering a school bus service to make sure children don’t get left behind, which is inspiring.
So, we cover the whole gamut, from government agencies to major project builders to someone on their e-scooter, and I’m really proud of that and how we bring all modes together to deliver for local communities.
How do your digitally backed solutions improve ANZ’s modes of mass transit?
LS: We’re in the middle of one of the biggest infrastructure investments ever in our history.
We’re operating in a more constrained market, so our members are increasingly looking at how to better deliver for our cities in more innovative ways.
This often comes down to technology – if you’re trying to shift more people onto public transport, it means having great service. But what does that look like?
It might mean more services, but it can also include improved information management so people know where they can go, more marketing or advertising of available services and how to use them, or greater connectivity and interchange across modes. Because of that data and connectivity, your experience improves as a passenger – you know when your bus gets to the station, for instance, or when your train is about to leave.
Having more developed systems that speak to each other means a better customer experience, encouraging more people to choose public transport.
What trends are developing across the sector and how are you responding to them?
LS: One of the big ones is housing and how you create precincts and regions with really good transport networks, enabling transit-orientated development and more liveable cities.
The other huge priority is climate change, and we act upon ambitious targets in Australia that will require a significant change in how we live and move.
We’re also seeing policy in ANZ increasingly used as a tool to guide behaviour. For example, NZ is looking at amending its road user charging policies to change people’s behaviour.
Governments are also looking at things like tax incentives for companies who have their employees use public transport, so there are policy levers that we can use to develop the sector.
How does the Connected Choices Action Plan combine mass transit services and next-generation mobility options to provide more choices in how people make their journeys?
LS: We realised there were a few policy areas – mode shift, customer experience, and net zero – that needed a deeper dive and more coordination amongst states, territories, and operators in the private sector in order to have the biggest impact.
Those are our three core priorities, and we’ve developed committees around them that have distinct action plans.
The Mode Shift Committee, for example, has developed something called the Mode Shift Index, which means all states across ANZ will track mode use. This means we’ll track whether people are cycling, walking, driving, using buses, or taking trains – and how this is changing – across all states and territories in ANZ.
You can look at the data and see what’s working and what’s not, and move the dial to prioritise planning and investment. Plus, you have real data in the background to back you up.
So, it’s important that we give different jurisdictions an opportunity to share their data and lessons with each other, because the data shows you what’s really happening.
It’s also special because we have all the major jurisdictions across the region, so it means everyone is at the table for these discussions, which is a huge transformation for PTAANZ and something I’m really proud of.
How do you work with governments and public institutions to ensure more reliable, safe, and sustainable transport options are available across local communities?
LS: I think it’s important to start out with a strong vision – you have to decide what kind of cities and regions you want to create before you go to the table and decide what type of infrastructure or transport projects you’re going to build and the systems and networks you want to operate.
So, starting with that purpose across our region is really important, and I’m proud that we’re community-focused and driven by that.
The other thing is if you look at the cost-benefit ratio of major projects, like delivering a school bus programme to a regional community, for example, it arguably doesn’t stack up.
Public transport has a strong equity lens, so it’s not just about economic productivity, but also people living their lives, getting to where they need to go, and integrating into society.
I met with Dorval R. Carter Jr., the former President of the Chicago Transit Authority, where they are developing a train line that will go to the south side of the city, which is one of the most underprivileged areas of the US.
I asked him, “Why are you doing that?”. Authorities don’t often give attention to these types of voters; these are the people that are often isolated or not listened to. He said to me, “Lauren, I’m building it for the kid that I was before”. That matters to me, too.
So, we have that opportunity and I’m very mindful of that in every decision we make. I take input from communities very seriously, as it makes a difference between whether or not you see your family or are socially isolated.
Not everyone has, or wants, access to a private vehicle, and we need to provide for people who don’t. Even for those who do, it’s about expanding choice to leave your car at home and take the train, bus, or ferry, or cycle to your destination.
“Public transport has a really strong equity lens, so it’s not just about economic productivity, but also people living their lives, getting to where they need to go, and integrating into society”
Lauren Streifer, Chief Executive, Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand
What specific initiatives and opportunities does PTAANZ support to foster collaboration amongst its members across the ANZ public transport landscape?
LS: I like to say PTAANZ is about choosing your own adventure. Regardless of what you’re into, there’s a place for you with us, whether you’re into policy, research, or action.
We have a strong Emerging Leaders programme supporting our young industry practitioners, and I’m also proud that we’re developing relationships with Transport for London and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), for example, enabling a collaboration between our region and key global partners like the UK and North America.
We also have our Connected Choices strategy and committees, and a podcast called Women Who Move Nations, so regardless of what you’re interested in or which part of the sector you’re from, there’s really exciting things to get involved with when you become a member.
Moving on to a focus on climate next year, how is the association harnessing the event in making transport a more effective lever for sustainable change?
LS: Australia will hold the Presidency for the COP31 climate negotiations in 2026, and PTAANZ will host the Global Transport Leaders’ Summit in November. That’s intentional – we have ambitious climate targets for our region.
Transport, unfortunately, is on track to be the biggest GHG emitter of any sector by 2030, and the move to electric vehicles (EVs) and the fact petrol cars won’t be phased out until 2050 means we have a big opportunity to leverage the power of mode shift to public and active transport to have an impact on our climate.
That’s the reason why we’re holding the Global Transport Leaders’ Summit and inviting 14 economies from around the world to share best practices about what we can do, as well as having Andy Lord, Commissioner of Transport for London, as keynote speaker.
This is a really good opportunity to feature public and active transport as powerful levers to reduce emissions and increase community benefit.
Finally, looking ahead, how will the association continue to shape the future of public transport across ANZ?
LS: I really want to strengthen where we came from – public sector connectivity and global linkages – in the future.
Therefore, you’ll see a lot more global engagement between ANZ and the rest of the world, and intergovernmental engagement between our jurisdictions to learn from what is working and where we are challenged.
You’ll also see our association having a louder, more collaborative voice that weighs in on policy discussions, particularly with federal and state governments, so we can work collaboratively together to face some pretty serious challenges.
