The Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust was a statutory authority of the Government of Western Australia from 1958 to 2003.
The organisation was formed with the trading name Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT) on 15 January 1958 with the purpose of consolidating the various private bus companies into one entity.
The private bus companies at the time were in a perilous financial state and people believed that Perth would benefit from a single integrated public transport system.
In March 1974, the MTT took over the management of Perth's suburban rail system from the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) and contracted the operation of the suburban rail system back to WAGR, making this the first time that all public transport in Perth has been managed by one organisation.
The MTT adopted Transperth as its trading name on 31 August 1986 in a bid to create a unified brand for the buses, ferries and trains.
The government later announced that it would withdraw MetroBus from operating and it would tender out the remaining contract areas.
MetroBus ceased operating bus services on 4 July 1998 and it was abolished on 30 June 2003 upon the formation of the Public Transport Authority.
[1] The private bus companies were in a perilous financial state and people believed that Perth would benefit from a single integrated public transport system.
[2] In 1957, the Parliament of Western Australia passed the Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust Act.
The act called for the MTT "to provide, maintain, protect and manage … efficient passenger transport facilities.
The MTT took over the operation of the Perth to Wanneroo bus service from Metro Tours in June 1964.
Express buses would also operate between suburban bus stations and the Perth CBD during peak periods.
[2] In 1973–74, the Parliament of Western Australia passed amendments to the MTT Act and the West Australian Government Railways Act to enable the MTT to gain the responsibility of the provision of suburban train services, which had up to that point been managed and operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR), later known as Westrail.
The amendments meant that WAGR remained the owner of the suburban rail infrastructure and rolling stock and would operated the services on behalf of the MTT.
[2][4] The changes went into effect in March 1974, and in July 1974, the MTT assumed financial responsibility for suburban train operations.
This study concluded that the Northern Suburbs Transit System should be built as a railway down the median strip of the Mitchell Freeway.
Construction on the Perth City Busport (now called Elizabeth Quay bus station) began in July 1988.
The Kwinana Freeway busway was extended by 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to Mount Henry Bridge.
[2] The government approved a plan called A More Responsive and Integrated Public Transport Service for Perth in September 1993.
[2] In July 1995, MetroBus was named the preferred tenderer for the operation of buses in the Joondalup North and Armadale South contract areas.
MetroBus was not successful in any of its other bids during the first stage of privatisation, and so the Rockingham, Southern River, Canning, Marmion, and Wanneroo contract areas were taken over by various private operators in September 1996.
[2][9][10] MetroBus continued past 4 July 1998 with the purpose of disposal of assets and ensuring that any remaining staff was given training and experience to allow them to find employment elsewhere.