Transport Opinion Survey
TOPS is commissioned and distributed by the Institute of Transport & Logistics Studies, University of Sydney.
TOPS is a quarterly survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 years and over across Australia. The sample is representative of Australia’s population distribution and demographic characteristics. Interviews are conducted by telephone by Taverner Research using trained interviewers.
Do Australians think transport is getting better in their local area? How confident are Australians that transport will improve in the short-term and long-term in Australia? What is the highest priority issue in transport for Australians? Is the state or federal government considered most responsible for transport? Should the private sector be more involved in the provision of public transport? TOPS tracks changes in Australians' confidence and sentiment about transport every quarter, and compares NSW with other states.
TOPS Results
| Q3 2012 (September) |
- In the September 2012 quarter, 8% of Australians nominated transport and 13% nominated infrastructure as one of the two highest priority issues in Australia today.
- Over half (51%) of Australians said that the highest priority issue for transport in Australia is public transport improvements, followed by road improvements (27%).
- 55% of Australians said that transport in their local areas is the same now as one year ago, down from 56% in the March 2012 quarter (the last survey period).
- Only 17% of Australians said that transport in their local areas will be better in one year’s time.
- In the September 2012 quarter, 43% of Australians reported that the level of crowding on local train services in the peak is intolerable.
- Bus Rapid Transit is an innovative public transport (PT) system and value for money investment in public transport, which involves buses on dedicated corridors. However, only 8% of Australians correctly described BRT as buses operating in their own corridor.
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| Q1 2012 (March) |
- Nearly half of Australians said that the highest priority issue for transport in Australia is public transport improvements, followed by road improvements (28%).
- 56% of Australians said that transport in their local areas is the same now as one year ago, down from 59% last quarter.
- Only 16% Australians said that transport in their local areas will be better in one year’s time, the lowest in nine quarters.
- 68% of Australians said that the highest priority for public transport should be investing in public transport (PT) within cities; while only 23% support high speed rail (HSR) between cities. Support for investing in public transport within cities was highest amongst people living in capital cities, students, and frequent PT users.
- In the March 2012 quarter, 51% of Australians said that taxi services in their local areas have not improved in the last 12 months; while only 14% said that taxi services have improved.
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| Q4 2011 (December) |
- Australians prefer investment in urban rail over high-speed services
- More Australians want improved rail services in major cities
rather than high-speed intercity rail, the latest quarterly national
transport survey from the University of Sydney shows.
- Strong support for public
transport, consistently ranked the top transport priority for Australia
since our quarterly survey began in March 2010.
- More than half of respondents in the latest survey said investment in rail within our
cities was the highest priority. One third of respondents said
high-speed rail between our cities, currently under investigation by the
federal government, was most pressing.
- Support for rail within cities was highest amongst frequent
public transport users, Victorian residents, and people living in
capital cities.
- Confidence about transport nationally remained constant,
with 46 per cent of respondents saying transport would improve across
Australia in the next five years.
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| Q3 2011 (September) |
- In the September 2011 quarter, 8% of Australians nominated transport and 12% nominated infrastructure as one of the two highest priority issues in Australia today, a slight decline from the last quarter, with transport highest in NSW (10%).
- Half of Australians (51%) said the highest priority issue for transport in Australia is public transport improvements, compared to 25% for road improvements. Support for public transport continued to be highest in Victoria (60%).
- 22% of Australians said transport in their local area will be worse in one year’s time, and 20% said it will be better. Victoria had an increase in confidence after the large decline in confidence last quarter.
- 63% of Australians said fuel for buses should not be included in the federal government’s proposed carbon tax, disagreeing with the government proposal to include buses from 2014 which may increase the price of public transport. A quarter of respondents (24%) said fuel for buses should be included.
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| Q2 2011 (June) |
- Transport increasing as highest priority issue
- Public transport the highest priority for transport
- Decline in confidence about transport in local area Divergent views about transport in Australia in short-term
- Australians confident about transport in long-term
- Government responsibility and private sector role
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| Q1 2011 (March) |
- In the March 2011 quarter, 7% of Australians nominated
transport and 14% nominated infrastructure as one of the two highest
priority issues in Australia today, with transport highest in NSW and
Victoria.
- Half of Australians (49%) said the highest priority issue for
transport in Australia is public transport improvements. Support for
public transport continued to be highest in Victoria.
- One in five Australians (20%) said transport in their local area
was better now than a year ago, similar to the previous quarter, and
23% said transport is worse now.
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