A KEY public transport group has called on the State Government to include more funding for services in the outer east as part of its budget next year.
In October, the Metropolitan Transport Forum presented its submission for the 2010-11 state budget to Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, asking for improved integration and frequency of services.
In its budget submission, the MTF said 70 per cent of Melburnians "have no effective access to regular public transport services"; warning that with urban and population growth, that figure could rise to 80 per cent.
It has called for planning for a Rowville rail service in a bid to improve public transport to Monash University and the Chadstone major activity centre.
The MTF has asked for an extension of SmartBus services, saying its success warranted additional route kilometres.
The submission also seeks funding to examine tram extensions, including the route 75 tram beyond Vermont South to the Knox City transport interchange.
A spokesman for Treasurer John Lenders said "while [Victoria] currently has the strongest finances of any Australian state, it will take many months if not years for governments around the world to repair the damage the Global Financial Crisis has inflicted on their budgets."
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