Graffiti is an ongoing and expensive problem faced not only by the PTA, but the entire community.  In 2008, the PTA spent approximately $2.8 million on removing graffiti and repairing damage caused by graffiti vandals.

In an effort to reduce the incidence of graffiti on public transport infrastructure, the PTA has launched an Urban Art Project – a community engagement exercise which has identified graffiti hot-spots on the network and uses youth and internationally-recognised public artists to create legitimate urban art.

The PTA acknowledges that there is a huge difference between self-expression in urban art and graffitiing with the express purpose of being a destructive vandal.  This project gives young people an opportunity to legally create urban art while working with and learning from recognised artists.