Tonight the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Outer East Branch met for the first time in 2005 and discussed issues such as the Knox and Doncaster tram extensions and the need for the Stud Road SmartBus service that must be funded in the upcoming state budget.

It is imperative that the Stud Road SmartBus is funded within the upcoming State Budget. It is completely unacceptable that services have not been funded past 7:45 pm for the seventh highest patronised service in Melbourne.

It is now time for the State Government to deliver the enhanced public transport services that it has long promised for the outer east.

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Outer East Branch has a busy schedule planned for 2005 to ensure that the outer east receives much needed improvements to public transport.