Labor promises Centenary Loop service

[Buzz Killington]

In a move to both reduce the pressure on limited parking availability in the Parliamentary Triangle and promote Canberra's Centenary, ACT Labor has made a $750,000 promise to provide a free parliamentary bus service in 2013.

The service would run every half hour between 9:00am and 5:30pm, from 1 February to 31 December 2013.

Three buses would be required to run the service each day, and it is anticipated that they would be carry Centenary of Canberra branding.

The proposed route loops from the City Interchange via London Circuit, Constitution Avenue, Kings Avenue, King George and King Edward Terraces, National Circuit, Brisbane Avenue, State Circle and Commonwealth Avenue.

At this stage, Parliament House is not included in the proposed route.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher told The Canberra Times that if the route proved popular, it may well be made a permanent service.

[Barry Drive]

In response to suggestions about altering the proposed route to service Parliament House, Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has stated (on twitter):

• it really is a balance between frequency and route, not necessarily set in stone but budget is :)
• happy to work with the transport planners on best possible route @kommissartodd06 @ACTbusspotter ....inc your advice :)

[King of Buses]

The way of which I percieved the article was for it to start on capital hill and operate a loop from there. However, it would be better to operate from the City.

My idea would be thus. Well actually it was the first thing I ever added to this site.

Route 100
Parliamentary Triangle Tourist loop
City Bus Interchange -Platform 8
C - Mort St
R - Cooyong St
R - Ainslie Ave (Canberra centre)
Continue up Ainslie Ave
R – Limestone Ave
L - Treloar Cres
L - Limestone Ave – War Memorial
R – ANZAC Pde
L – Parkes Way – Blundell's Farmhouse
R – Kings Ave
L – Bowen Place – National Gallery of Australia
R – King Edward Tce
L – Parkes Pl (1st Time)
L - King George Tce
R - Walpole Cres
Continue onto Queen Victoria Tce – Old Parliament House
L – Federation Mall (2nd Time)
R – Parliament Dr – Parliament House
R – Federation Mall (2nd Time)
R – Queen Victoria Tce
Continue onto Walpole Cres
L - King George Tce
R - Parkes Pl (2nd Time)
L – King Edward Tce – National Library & Questacon
R – Flynn Pl
L – Commonwealth Ave - Floriade
L – Albert St
L – Barrine Dr
L – Albert St
R – Regatta Pl – Regatta Point
R – Barrine Dr
R – Albert St
L – Commonwealth Ave
Continue around Vernon Cir and onto Northbourne
R – City Bus Interchange

[Sir Pompously]

The map on The Canberra Times website shows the route as follows:

Start - London Cct
L - Constitution Ave
R - Reg Saunders Way
L - Russell Drive
R - Kings Ave
L - Bowen Drive
R - King Edward Terrace
L - Langton Cres
L - King George Terrace
(Map shows Continue onto Macquarie Street, but I think that is incorrect)
R - Walpole Cres
L - National Cct
R - Brisbane Ave
R - State Circle
L - Commonwealth Avenue
L - London Cct
Finish - London Cct

My idea is the above with a deviation to Parliament House as follows:

From Brisbane Ave
L - State Circle
R - Melbourne Ave
R - Parliament Drive (Mapi shows Federation Mall in front of APH however it still shows the original road formation of Parliament Drive)
L - Federation Mall/Parliament Drive
L - Parliament Drive
R - Commonwealth Ave

Another option is to remove National Cct and Brisbane Ave, and have the bus travel up Federation Mall:

From Walpole Cres
Continue Queen Victoria Terrace
L - Federation Mall
R - Parliament Drive (Federation Mall on Mapi with old road, Google Maps shows Parliament Drive)
R - Federation Mall
L - Queen Victoria Terrace
L - Queen Victoria Terrace
R - Commonwealth Ave

[Barry Drive]

The purpose of the loop (as I understand it) is to be both a tourist service and to service workers in the Triangle and Barton. With that in mind, this is my suggested route (can run in either direction):

City
London Cct
Commonwealth Ave
L - Parliament Dr
C - Federation Mall
L - Queen Victoria Tce
R - Parliament Sq (depending on the one way direction)
L - King George Tce
R - Langton Cr
R - King Edward Tce
R - 2nd Parkes Pl
L - King George Tce
R - Walpole Cr
L - Queen Victoria Tce / National Cct
R - Sydney Av
R - State Cir
L - Commonwealth Av
L - London Cct

This route removes Constituition and Kings Av which are already well serviced by Red Rapid and Green Line services, and picks up Parliament House and Sydney Av which are currently poored serviced.

[King of Buses]

There is one set of stops on federation mall and also another set on Queen Victoria Tce (toward Walpole Cres end)  from the days of which the 39 travelled down there. They could be used by this route especially the ones on Federation mall considering they've got shelters making them a good set too service.
But whatever happens to this proposed route, it should in my opinion be numbered route 100.

[Bus 400]

Since this service is being labelled as a Centenary Loop, would a diversion via Regatta Point to see the National Capital exhibit & Walter Burley Griffin's map work?

[Barry Drive]

Since this service is being labelled as a Centenary Loop, would a diversion via Regatta Point to see the National Capital exhibit & Walter Burley Griffin's map work?

No. It is not a tourist route.

BUT - maybe the Regatta Point stop on Commonwealth Ave could be serviced by this route at all times of the year.

[Bus 400]

The route has been added to Google Transit.

Stops include
City Bus Station P10
Anzac Parade (via Constitution Ave)
Australian War Memorial (stop formerly used by 33)
Russell Offices
National Gallery (on King Edward Terrace)
National Libary (same as above)
Musuem Of Australian Democracy
(Goes past Parliament House via federation Mall)
Albert Hall
National Musuem Of Australia
Liversidge St (stop currently shared by 3 & 7)
Continue via Marcus Clarke St to City.

Route-100
Runs 09:00 to last service 16:30 with 30 minute frequencies.

[Barry Drive]

OK, looks like it will be just a tourist loop. Not a bad route, depending on how long a loop takes to run. But I don't think Pl 10 is a good idea. Would be better to use Pl 9 - much easier for passengers to get to.

Google Transit Feed does not show any bus stop on Federation Mall {headslap}.