Policy Submission: Department for Infrastructure and Transport about South Australia’s Public Transport Strategy

Introduction

JFA Purple Orange welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the consultation on developing a Public Transport Strategy for South Australia. We support the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s (DIT) intention of mapping out a 30-year vision to guide future public transport planning and decisions, as well as to set clear priorities for investment. The DIT have said that they will build upon what the community has already told them during the consultation for the recently published South Australian Transport Strategy, but will also look more deeply at what is important for public transport through this current consultation.

JFA Purple Orange acknowledges the release of the final version of South Australia’s Transport Strategy in March 2025. Our submission on the draft South Australian Transport Strategy highlighted several key areas for improvement – notably, the need to strengthen commitments to accessibility and inclusion in transport, to embed co-design with people with disability, and to use accurate, respectful terminology throughout.

Research and lived experience consistently demonstrate that accessible transport is essential for independent living and community participation. When transport systems have barriers,  whether it be inaccessible vehicles, stops, or services, they effectively exclude people with disability from jobs, education, healthcare and social life.

Conversely, when we design transport for inclusion, the benefits are widespread. Features like safer footpaths, step-free access, clear signage and audible announcements help not only people with disability but also parents with prams, seniors, and people with temporary injuries, exemplifying the universal benefits of accessibility . An inclusive transport system is a fundamental aspect of a modern, efficient, and equitable transport network.

While we are encouraged by the high-level commitments and improved tone of the South Australian Transport Strategy, our submission will also identify areas where further work is needed to translate vision into reality. Despite improvements over recent years, the on-the-ground accessibility of public transport in South Australia still falls short of what it should be. In a July 2022 survey of South Australians with disability conducted by JFA Purple Orange, only 11% of respondents rated the accessibility of public transport as “good” or “very good,” whereas nearly half rated it “poor” or “very poor” . Clearly, there is substantial room to improve the user experience.

We outline below several priority areas where focused action, guided by community input, can make public transport more accessible and inclusive. Addressing these practical barriers will be critical for the Public Transport Strategy to achieve its outcome of “safe and accessible public transport for everyone.” We draw attention to the Access Taxi service as a vital piece of the transport network that requires urgent strategic attention, and then discuss the importance of co-design in developing and implementing the Strategy.