The Victorian Coalition Government has gazetted new regulations effective from 1 January 2015 to crack down on non-commuters using railway station car parks, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced today.
The regulations will be initially trialled at Box Hill, Burwood, Camberwell, Heidelberg, Highett and Murrumbeena stations, all locations where commuters have had to endure non-commuters taking precious free commuter car parking spaces.
“Car parks are there for public transport users who directly contribute to the cost of running, maintaining and upgrading Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses by paying a fare,” Mr Mulder said.
“These free commuter car park spaces should not be used by retailers, local employees, tradies or shoppers who are not catching public transport.
“While the Victorian Coalition Government has introduced more than 10,000 extra weekly train, tram or bus trips across Victoria, with buses and trams providing an alternative to driving to stations, we still need to ensure that free commuter car parking spaces are being used by rail commuters and not others.”
From 1 January 2015, the use of these station car parks on weekdays between 6am and 7pm will be limited to drivers or passengers of motor vehicles who use public transport while the vehicle is parked.
A person may, however, park in a station car park for up to one hour provided he or she remains in the station car park area. This will enable a person to park in a station car park to drop off or collect a passenger.
“Local MPs have received complaints that those car parks are being used by non-public transport users. We’ve listened to the community and we will trial this solution,” Mr Mulder said.
Member for Burwood Graham Watt joined Mr Mulder today at Burwood train station and welcomed the announcement.
“The Napthine Government is listening to the community and trialling a solution,” Mr Watt said.
Across Metro’s rail network, the Coalition Government is working to provide a range of options for travelling to stations, by introducing more secure Parkiteer bicycle cages and improving connecting tram and bus routes.
The new regulations will be enforced by Authorised Officers conducting random checks at car park exits.
If drivers or passengers in the vehicle do not have a valid ticket that shows public transport was used while the vehicle was parked, they risk an $89 fine.
If successful, the trial will be extended to other free commuter car parks in 2015.