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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2812 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):

The provision of public transport services to the community at appropriate standards in terms of route density, service frequency and reliability is also a key element of ACTION's reform agenda. Benchmarking studies have confirmed that excess resources have been employed in some areas and at some times, and this has limited the options for supporting growth in demand across the network. This is being effectively dealt with through network review initiatives, which are aligning service provision with demand and releasing resources for deployment in other areas. Bus services to Gungahlin, for example, were increased by around 40 per cent in May 1996 as an outcome of this process, and a further substantial upgrade is being planned for early 1997. The aim is to provide services ahead of growth in demand so that positive transport patterns develop within the area.

Additional commuter express services have been and will be introduced to respond to demand for those services. Extra capacity has been provided on the route 333 service, and increased frequencies now apply on some inner Canberra routes such as route 238. Improved connections have been provided to Canberra railway station. Network planning has been assisted by quality patronage data available from ACTION's automatic ticketing system. Throughout the process ACTION has aimed to maintain its high standards in service delivery. Its target of meeting at least 99.5 per cent of scheduled services and 100 per cent of school bus services has generally been satisfied in recent years, at the same time as reforms have been implemented. These target levels are higher than those applied by most other public transport providers. It is very easy for people to come into this place and criticise the one time a bus is late or does not turn up. It is a different thing to say, "Well done, ACTION buses, for turning up 99.9 per cent of the time".

Fares review has been an important issue as benchmarking has confirmed the low average fares and cost recovery levels. This has been addressed in recent fare reviews, but at the same time it has been possible to provide some real incentives for existing passengers to utilise the service and to attract new passengers. In the last fare review, for example, reduced fares were offered to school travellers and new low-priced tickets were introduced for shoppers to travel in off-peak periods and for families, allowing all-day travel at less than half the price of the equivalent single fares. The pensioner off-peak daily ticket introduced more than a year ago continues to be very popular with this target group.

To further improve the attractiveness of its services, ACTION is working with the traffic planners to introduce a number of bus priority measures. The dedicated bus lanes have successfully improved the speed of operation of key express services, and these are being complemented by work at key intersections, where even minor changes can improve bus performance. On the other hand, the opening up of the Athllon Drive bus lane, which was done within three months of the Government being elected, being an election promise, has pleased the people in that community, and with no detrimental effect on ACTION buses, as I understand it. The introduction of "B" signals, which give buses a head start on other traffic, is an example of these initiatives. Work has commenced on the introduction of transponder sensing equipment linked to traffic lights that will further improve operating speeds for buses.

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