Page 896 - Week 03 - Thursday, 10 March 2005
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What is important about this is that the government has done extensive research to understand what influences people’s decisions about which transport mode they choose. And, whilst price is often cited as an issue for public transport, in fact the key determinant for people’s decision making is the flexibility and the timeliness. If we can improve the timeliness of public transport, if we can improve how competitive it is in contrast to the motor vehicle, we will encourage people to use public transport.
I would like to outline to you, Mr Speaker, and to members some of the time savings we have calculated as a result of the range of measures I have outlined in my statement today. For example, if you are travelling in your electorate, Mr Speaker, from Fraser shops through to the Canberra Centre the current journey time by bus is 45 minutes. The busway and other measures will cut that travel time by 11 minutes, down to 34 minutes. If you are travelling from Charnwood shops to the Legislative Assembly, or more importantly to London Circuit here in the city, the current travel time is 48 minutes; the expected time is 35 minutes or a time saving of 13 minutes on that journey. That is on route 313 from Charnwood to the city. As another example I cite the journey from Higgins shops through to National Circuit in Barton, in the middle of the parliamentary triangle. The current journey time is one hour. We anticipate cutting that journey time to only 45 minutes, or a 15-minute saving on route 217. So this shows the real and positive benefits that residents in the Belconnen area in particular will receive through the development of this piece of infrastructure.
In addition, of course, Canberrans will be able to avoid traffic congestion and competing for limited city centre parking by using one of the Park’n’Ride facilities that will be provided adjacent to the major bus stations. People will be able to travel to these bus stations, park their vehicles and then ride into the city centre—again, major savings in terms of parking fees and travel times.
All stations and major organisations adjacent to the busway will have a state-of-the-art intelligent transport system that displays real-time information on bus arrivals. The busway will also provide indirect benefits to the community, including reduced running and maintenance costs for bus operators such as ACTION, reduced vehicle emissions, and improved running times for emergency vehicles, the only other mode that will be permitted to use the busway.
Tenders for the engagement of a consultant to undertake a thorough environmental and heritage assessment of the busway, including determination of the final route, have closed and those consultants will commence work shortly. Work to determine a final route will include the identification and assessment of other route options, an environmental, heritage, economic, social and operational impact assessment of route options, and conceptual drawings. After consideration of the environmental impacts and the necessary approval processes have been completed, construction is expected in early 2007, subject to budget considerations.
Development of the busway is also a key element that will help revitalise the city under the government’s Canberra central program and in the implementation of the Canberra spatial plan and the National Capital Authority’s Griffin legacy. All of these key planning documents envisage a much greater density of city development. In turn, this
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