Changes to Canberra's bus network in two weeks would mark the beginning of turning it into Australia's best bus service, ACTION director James Roncon says.
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From Monday, May 28, most weekday bus timetables will change. Mr Roncon said all bus users should check the new timetables which are available from today online - www.action.act.gov.au - and in print from bus interchange,s or by telephone on 131 710.
Major changes will be to West Belconnen, Gungahlin, Fyshwick and central Canberra. Intertown services, known as Blue Rapid, will be extended to Kippax, giving a 15-minute frequency between 7am and 7pm. Frequency of the Red Rapid (Route 200) between Gungahlin and Fyshwick will be increased to 10 minutes during morning peaks.
Services will be extended to Gungahlin suburbs of Casey, Crace, Bonner and Forde, which now have a very limited service. These suburbs will also receive a weekend service but generally there will be little improvement to weekend services, though this was promised by the government four years ago.
Mr Roncon said weekend services depended on drivers volunteering to work. Greater certainty was required before these services could be greatly improved. However, under the new network, weekend services would operate along Flemington Road to Civic.
The changes from May 28 would also deliver increased frequency to Canberra Hospital.
Mr Roncon said data from the MyWay ticketing system had confirmed ACTION was carrying about 70,000 passenger journeys on weekdays, which included school students. Recently a growth among adult passengers had seen up to about 73,000 journeys on some days.
He said changes to begin on May 28 were the beginning of improved connections. Another redesign of the bus network, probably late next year, would further reflect travel patterns.
