Consultation opens on new ACTION bus network

Media Release: Shane Rattenbury MLA, 13 September 2013

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today invited the community to provide feedback on proposed changes to ACTION’s bus service.

“A number of improvements have been identified in the ACTION bus network for 2014 and we are now calling on the community to provide feedback,” Mr Rattenbury said. “The new network has been developed based on patronage data from the MyWay system and feedback from bus passengers and drivers.

“The entire network has been reviewed with a focus on providing more direct routes, better connections and increased frequency.

“To allow for increased frequency and more direct routes there does need to be some trade-offs. For example, to make services more direct, the walking distance for some people to get to a bus stop might be increased. The new network still meets the minimum requirement in the Transport for Canberra policy with 95% of residences being within 500 metres of a bus stop ‘as the crow flies’.

“In addition, it is proposed that, while the Red and Blue Rapid evening services will continue, late evening suburban services with low passenger numbers will finish earlier allowing for more services during the day when there is higher demand.”

Highlights of the proposed new network for 2014 include:

• a new service linking Molonglo to Woden and Cooleman Court with a peak hour Xpresso to the City – these services will support increased residential development in the Molonglo Valley
• a new Rapid service between Gungahlin and Belconnen
• a new service for Hume
• improved services between Erindale and Woden
• improved services to the airport and surrounding business park precinct
• increased Xpresso services between Weston Creek and the City, including an Xpresso direct to the City from Cooleman Court.
• improved services into the Parliamentary Triangle, including two new dedicated morning peak services from Woden and services from Gungahlin which now extend into the Triangle rather than terminate in Civic.

Mr Rattenbury said proposed changes to the bus service build on other investments such as bus priority measures, bus station and stop upgrades, new buses, NXTBUS – the real time passenger information system – and light rail.

Increasing the frequency of bus services will encourage more Canberrans to get out of their private vehicles and on to public transport. This in turn will contribute to the ACT Government’s goals of reducing carbon emissions and assist the ACT Government to reach its mode share target for public transport by 2026 (16 percent).

“A comprehensive brochure with maps and specific proposed changes for each region of Canberra is available from all Canberra Connect Shopfronts, ACT public libraries and online at timetotalk.act.gov.au. People can provide feedback by completing an online survey or pick up a hardcopy survey from the same locations.

“People can also attend information displays at bus stations and at public library branches where staff will be available to talk through the changes and answer any questions. Times and dates for these displays are available online at timetotalk.act.gov.au.

“The ACT Government is committed to providing a more efficient bus network which meets the travel needs of the community. I encourage the community to get involved in this consultation process to ensure a positive outcome for the service.

“Feedback received will be used to help finalise a new network which is expected to be introduced early-2014,” Mr Rattenbury concluded.

Consultation on proposed changes closes Monday 14 October 2013. For more information visit timetotalk.act.gov.au

Times and dates for the information displays are:

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