Page 2304 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 June 2005
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(6) Alternative parking for the Authority’s staff is available at Southwell Park and some limited long stay parking areas in and around Dickson’s commercial centre.
ACTION bus service—flexibus
(Question No 380)
Mr Pratt asked the Minister for Planning, upon notice, on 3 May 2005:
(1) In relation to the introduction of the new ACTION flexibus evening services to various suburbs throughout Canberra, in the suburbs where the flexibus evening services will operate, what provisions have been made for passengers wishing to travel from their suburb at night, but who may not have access to a telephone, and who rely on regular routine services for pick-ups;
(2) How will ACTION ensure that passengers who have pre-arranged a pick-up time are not waiting beyond that time due to the subsequent bookings of other passengers and re-routing of the service after their initial phone call to ACTION;
(3) Will the ACT Government be reimbursing passengers for the cost of making the telephone call to 13 17 10 to book the flexibus service for example, by deducting the cost of the call from their bus fare; if not, why not;
(4) What are the cost savings or benefits to the ACT Government by the introduction of the flexibus system as opposed to the continuation of the previous system of regular timetabled buses;
(5) What are the financial figures relevant to part (4).
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) ACTION customers have a number of options to book a flexibus. In addition to customers ringing the call centre to book a flexibus they are able to book by faxing a booking through the call centre, by ACTION’s webpage on the Internet, in person at an Interchange information/ticketing office, or by post.
(2) If there is heavy demand for pick ups, ACTION will divert other services, to ensure waiting times for customers are kept to a minimum.
(3) No. Flexibus is a premium service, providing an additional service to customers.
(4) All potential cost savings obtained from ceasing to operate empty route buses at night have been used to increase frequency on the evening Intertown and route services and the new hourly area services. This has provided Canberrans with a demand responsive evening bus service. This is another measure the government is introducing to support the achievement of patronage targets in the Sustainable Transport Plan.
(5) Potential savings $210,000 could have been realised had the area services simply been introduced to replace the former 90min frequency route network. These savings have been reinvested into additional service delivery.
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