This evening, along with Cr. Mick Van de Vreede the Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition, I attended a meeting of the Metropolitan Transport Forum to discuss the ETC’s advocacy efforts for public transport improvements and to strengthen the communication between the two council groupings.

The Metropolitan Transport Forum, consists of a number of inner Melbourne councils, providing quite a strategic fit for the representation provided to Melbourne’s outer eastern councils through the Eastern Transport Coalition. While specific issues may differ between inner and outer Melbourne, the lack of public transport affects Melbourne overall, through leading to higher traffic congestion and a loss of urban amenity.

It is imperative that collaboration between the Metropolitan Transport Forum and Eastern Transport Coalition increases to minimise duplication and to provide a cohesive and united message in the advocacy for public transport improvements.