Early-bird ACTION passengers will receive discounted fares as the ACT government moves to coax commuters on to the bus network before the introduction of paid parking in the Parliamentary Triangle.
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As part of a trial beginning on May 5, ACTION bus fares will be reduced to $1 on weekday services before 7.30am.
Commuters who electronically recharge their MyWay smartcard will receive a further discount of 5per cent – saving the average adult passenger as much as $1.84 on each trip. The special fares will be automatically applied as passengers tag onto the smartcard system.
Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury will announce the trial on Monday, encouraging commuters to use the bus network outside peak travel periods until May 30.
"The idea here is to encourage people who perhaps haven't given ACTION a go before to try with this bargain fare," Mr Rattenbury said. "Or for people who travel a bit later on in the day to perhaps shift their travel earlier to help us spread out the morning peak." He said a decision on making the discounted fares permanent would be taken after the results are considered.
Workers and visitors to national institutions will contribute to an estimated $74million in new parking revenue inside the Parliamentary Triangle from July 1.
Previously free car parking on national land in Parkes, Barton, Russell and Acton will be paid, forcing an estimated 7600 bureaucrats to pay as much as $11 a day or about $2640 a year for full-time workers.
Mr Rattenbury said additional bus services would be added to routes inside the triangle from the middle of the year. There would be about 600 services each day plus another 400 on Commonwealth Avenue.
Three lunchtime information sessions about bus services will be held inside the Triangle this week. On Tuesday, a session will be held in front of Australian-American Memorial on Russell Drive, followed by a session at the Barton bus station on National Circuit on Wednesday.
A session on Thursday will take place on King Edward Terrace in Parkes at the Federation Centenary Fountains. All information sessions be from 12pm to 2pm.
