Transport Connections Evaluation Report - TDSA

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ABCD Department of Human Services Transport Connections Program Government July 2006 • Two Rivers, Hume Transport Links and Valley to City Efficiently have addressed scarcity of volunteers in pilot project areas. One particular aspect of identifying need is then attempting to influence and change systemic barriers that impede local solutions. Over the last 12 months, some systemic barriers have begun to be reviewed, such as: • opening of spare capacity on school buses has been successfully managed by Let’s GET Connected, and Southern Mallee TCP • unsuitable timetables for major transport services have been resolved by Getting Around (Macedon and Mt Alexander), with the implementation of an early train to Bendigo • inflexibility of taxi services, and regulations, is currently being addressed by the Country Taxi Review, with participation from the statewide TCP taxi working group. Table 4.1 below indicates the number of regional forums/advisory groups that have been initiated by the TCP. Table 4.1: Overview of working groups TCP initiated groups Mid term evaluation phase Final evaluation phase Regional forums/advisory groups 5 9 The TCP pilot projects are now well placed to understand community need and identify transport disadvantage. Since the mid term evaluation, a number of initiatives have been implemented to address transport disadvantage at both a local level, via working groups and regional forums, and at a statewide level, via reviews of policies or service provision. Identifying transport disadvantage within communities is the first step in addressing the issue, and this has been raised as one of the major benefits of the program overall. As a result, an effective response can be considered by all partners at a local, regional and statewide level. 4.1.2 Development of systems level solutions to transport disadvantage The TCP statewide working groups have continued to address common issues faced by all pilot projects, in particular: • the taxi working group has provided information and a submission to the Victorian Taxi Directorate review • the school bus working group has developed a discussion paper to address and provide solutions to opening up spare capacity on this resource. As outlined in the mid term evaluation, the pilot projects provide an effective mechanism for raising issues at the statewide level. This concept was summarised as the ‘three layers of TCP’ – local working groups, TCP Pilot Project and Statewide TCP Steering Committee. A positive development since the mid term evaluation has been the introduction of regional forums to assist in identifying and developing sustainable solutions to transport disadvantage. This additional step is now embedded in some pilot project areas and is another useful mechanism to cascade policy and legislative frameworks set at a statewide level (see Figure 4.1 below). Final Evaluation - Transport Connections Program 2006 19 © 2006 KPMG, an Australian partnership, is part of the KPMG International network. KPMG International is a Swiss cooperative. All rights reserved. The KPMG logo and name are trademarks of KPMG.
ABCD Department of Human Services Transport Connections Program Government July 2006 Figure 4.1: The layers of TCP Local Working Groups TCP Pilot Project Statewide TCP Steering Committee Regional forums/ Advisory groups Overall, the TCP has been effective at raising local transport issues to the appropriate level. Since the mid term evaluation, pilot projects and Government agencies have recognised that some issues and solutions can be dealt with at a regional level, and have now included this within their project activities. It is important to ensure that future working groups are: • time limited • focussed on one concept/issue at a particular time • receive appropriate support to ensure their effectiveness. These solutions are sustainable and low-cost (only requiring participants’ time and some minor expenses) and assist local communities to understand transport issues, and the policies and procedures that can impede the process of addressing these issues. 4.2 Outcomes at the local systems level 4.2.1 Assessment of transport need As highlighted in the mid term evaluation, the TCP pilot projects have all undertaken some form of needs assessment for the communities in which they operate. In undertaking this in the first instance, the TCP pilot projects have been well placed to understand the needs of the community, and how to match existing resources with community needs. Northern Hume Transport Forums This is a series of four forums that will focus on the transport disadvantaged groups within Hume, including: • young people; • people with disabilities; • senior members; and • families. This initiative will provide an opportunity for the residents in Northern Hume, and the services that support them, to have direct input into transport and strategic planning, to identify priority transport issues and to identify potential solutions for these issues. Final Evaluation - Transport Connections Program 2006 20 © 2006 KPMG, an Australian partnership, is part of the KPMG International network. KPMG International is a Swiss cooperative. All rights reserved. The KPMG logo and name are trademarks of KPMG.
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Transport Connections Evaluation Report - TDSA

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